Expert: Roland Finston - 1/22/2012

Question
QUESTION: The driver's side vanity mirror light is not working in my 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager.  How do access the bulb to replace it?  s

ANSWER: Hi Elizabeth,
Unfortunately that vanity lamp on the visor is not described in the '97 or '98 or '95 manuals that I own. Have you checked the owner's manual if you have a copy of that? I can give you the bulb # 6501966 which may be so specialized as to have to be obtained from a dealer. Were that the case, the parts counterperson can look at the drawings for the mirror which should show the lens and give an indication as to how it is removed so as to access the bulbs. There are supposed to be 2 bulbs in each fixture by the way according to the wiring diagram. If both bulbs stopped functioning simultaneously then it may be that one of the 2 wires that connect the bulbs to the circuit has come disconnected. The right side mirror lights should show the presence of 2 bulbs so see what that appears like and perhaps that is the issue rather than the bulbs both being burned out.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: there are 2 bulbs, and the passenger side is fine.  How do i find those wires?  it's not a big issue, my son drives the car, but i would like everything to be working.  Also, the lights that illuminate the dash where the heater and ac control blinks continuously.  What can we check to find out that problem?

Answer
As best I can tell the wiring for the left and right vanity bulbs are in parallel to oneanother, so it would have to be a splice which is near the driver side mirror, probably accessed by removing the visor but I can't be sure. Given that, I wonder if it might be best to go to a dealer parts counter learn how to open the lens, then take a look at the filaments in the bulbs on the left side and see if they look burned out or not, and if not then try to trace the wires. If they are burned out, then buy 2 new bulbs at the dealer on a return trip thereto. Another approach would be to use a volt-ohm meter to measure for voltage at the bulb sockets and to check the bulbs for continuity themselves.