Theory Of Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2022 Chrysler Voyager and 2022 Chrysler Pacifica. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

When the ignition is on, the Body Control Module (BCM) provides a 12-volt signal, on the Left and Right Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuits, to the Left and Right Tail Lamp Assemblies. When the Left or Right Turn Lamp is activated, the Body Control Module (BCM) provides a 12-volt signal on the Rear Turn Lamp Driver circuit, indicating the Turn Lamps have been requested.

When the Left or Right Turn Lamp is activated, an internal driver in the Tail Lamp Assemblies pulls the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit voltage signal low (below 6 volts), in sequence with the Turn Lamp flash. When the Turn Lamps are Off, the BCM maintains the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit voltage signal high (above 8 volts).

A failure in the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit may be caused by one of the following conditions:

When the Left or Right Turn Lamps are ON, and the voltage on the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit is constantly 12 volts (system voltage), may indicate the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit is open or shorted to voltage, the Ground circuit is open, a poor connection or an inoperative Tail Lamp Assembly.
When the Left or Right Turn Lamps are OFF, the Tail Lamp Assembly is not disconnected and the voltage on the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit is below 6 volts, may indicate a short to ground on the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit, an internally shorted Tail Lamp Assembly, or water/corrosion at a harness connector/terminal.
When the Tail Lamp Assembly is disconnected, the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit is not shorted to ground, and the voltage on the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit is below 6 volts, may indicate the BCM is not supplying the 12-volt signal on the Rear Lighting/Stop Lamp Fault Sense circuit.