Brake light issue - dead TIPM, help?

paulpalf · Sep 1, 2011

Hi all,
First post here, just got my patriot on monday, and already I'm not a happy camper.
I bought an '07 patriot from a private seller. I had a CAA inspection done and they said the brake lights were out (but high level one still working), I presumed just bulbs so bought it anyway.

Found the bulbs and fuse to be good, had a search around on here and found it was a known issue related to tow package wiring (mine isn't wired but there was a tow package wiring kit in the trunk, must have been uninstalled). Had it in the dealer this morning to look at the diagnostics. TIPM is dead, they want $1120 + tax + labour. Holy Sh*t. I asked them to investigate recon/used etc, waiting for a call back.

Do I have any other options? Anyone who has had this issue fixed it in any other way?

Not a good start to my Jeep life.
Paul

festerw · Sep 1, 2011

1st check the brake light switch, 2nd check in the front left fender there is a wiring splice just below the headlight that I've had have 2 wires repaired. 1st repair was the brake lights 2nd was a transmission control circuit.

paulpalf · Sep 1, 2011

Thanks,
Don't think it is the switch as the high-level light comes on.
I'll try to check that splice. Do you have to remove the fender entirely to get to it?
Paul

pjonesmoody · Sep 1, 2011

Sorry to hear that, Paul. I think the non-Mopar aftermarket wiring harnesses for trailer lights are junk, but I don't know for sure if it could have fried your jeep's system.

I installed the tow kit wiring harness from U-Haul (plugs into the Patriot's tail light assemblies) in July 2010, used it for one trip in August 2010, and when I went to plug in a trailer in July 2011 the trailer lights were getting power but none of the signals were coming through. The Patriot's lights worked fine though. The U-Haul guy said it probably was the relay box in the aftermarket harness that had gone bad.

I took the Patriot to the local Jeep dealer and they removed the aftermarket harness and installed the Mopar harness, which, from what they told me, interfaces directly with the Patriot's computer which had to be reprogrammed to accept the new Mopar harness. Now, everything works just as it should.

Upon inspection of the bad parts, the aftermarket harness's relay box was swollen and as far as we could tell, dead. So $500 later I have a real legitimate Mopar wiring harness that should theoretically last as long as the patriot, instead of that crap U-Haul sold me.

So, maybe a similar bad relay box was previously in your assembly and it fried your system. Who knows though.

I feel your pain with the dumb issues that shouldn't be. Hope they can find a reman'd or second-hand system for you on the cheap.

festerw · Sep 2, 2011

You'll have to remove the tire and inner fender liner to access it but it is visible from under the hood.

festerw · Sep 2, 2011

Another thought I believe the TIPM is federally mandated to be covered for 8 years/80,000 miles. You may want to check the warranty book.

paulpalf · Sep 2, 2011

Thanks, I'll check - I'm in Canada though so the rules may be different.

paulpalf · Sep 15, 2011

Just to close this off:
Problem was indeed a dead TIPM. Purchased a new module and it fixed the problem.
$150 for diagnosis
$635 for module (shipped from Pollard Mopar in Boulder)
$123 for install.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Brake light issue - dead TIPM, help?

paulpalf

festerw

paulpalf

pjonesmoody

festerw

festerw

paulpalf

paulpalf

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