Dodge Nitro. Manual - part 650

Fig. 38: Identifying Latch Tab, Light Bar Unit & Lens 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

3. Position the lens (3) over the lamp housing under the handle and light bar unit (2).  

4. Engage the two tabs on the inboard side of the lens into the slots on the inboard side of the lamp housing. 

5. Push the outboard side of the lens upward until the lens latch tab (1) is fully engaged in the lamp housing. 

6. Reconnect the battery negative cable.  

PARK BRAKE SWITCH 

DESCRIPTION 

PARK BRAKE SWITCH 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Lamps/Lighting - Exterior - Service Information - Nitro

  

Fig. 39: Park Brake Switch 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

The park brake switch (1) is located on the park brake lever mechanism on the floor panel transmission tunnel 
below the center floor console. This switch includes a spade-type output terminal (2) that connects the switch to 
the vehicle electrical system through a dedicated take out and connector of the body wire harness. The output 
terminal is integral to the stationary contact within a molded plastic insulator. A locating tab (4) on the insulator 
engages a slot in the park brake lever mechanism for positive switch location. External to the insulator is a 
movable leaf contact (3) with an integral grounding lug on one end and an integral actuating lever and follower 
on the opposite end. The switch is secured to and grounded by a single screw to the park brake lever 
mechanism. 

The park brake switch cannot be adjusted or repaired and, if ineffective or damaged, it must be replaced. 

OPERATION 

PARK BRAKE SWITCH 

The park brake switch is a normally closed, mechanically actuated leaf contact switch that is operated by the 
park brake lever mechanism. The switch is grounded through its mounting to the park brake lever mechanism 

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Lamps/Lighting - Exterior - Service Information - Nitro

  

and provides a ground input to the Electro Mechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) (also known as the Cab 
Compartment Node/CCN) on a park brake switch sense circuit whenever the park brake is applied, and opens 
this circuit whenever the park brake is released. The park brake switch sense input to the EMIC is used for 
control of the brake indicator and may also be used as a logic input for other electronic features in the vehicle. 

The park brake switch as well as the hard wired inputs and outputs of the switch may be diagnosed using 
conventional diagnostic tools and procedures. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. 

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING 

PARK BRAKE SWITCH 

INDICATOR ILLUMINATES DURING BULB TEST, BUT DOES NOT WHEN PARK BRAKE APPLIED 

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Disconnect the wire harness connector for the park 

brake switch from the switch terminal. Apply the parking brake. Check for continuity between the park 
brake switch terminal and a good ground. There should be continuity. If OK, go to step 2. If not OK, 
replace the ineffective park brake switch.  

2. Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector from the cluster connector receptacle. Check for 

continuity between the park brake switch sense circuit cavities of the wire harness connector for the park 
brake switch and the wire harness connector for the instrument cluster. There should be continuity. If not 
OK, repair the open park brake switch sense circuit between the park brake switch and the instrument 
cluster as required.  

INDICATOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED - BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKS OK 

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Disconnect the wire harness connector for the park 

brake switch from the switch terminal. Check for continuity between the terminal of the park brake 
switch and a good ground. There should be no continuity with the park brake released, and continuity 
with the park brake applied. If OK, go to step 2. If not OK, replace the ineffective park brake switch.

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable 
the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering 
wheel, steering column, airbag, Occupant Classification System (OCS), 
seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component 
diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) 
cable, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before 
performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to 
disable the SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in 
accidental airbag deployment.

NOTE:

If the brake indicator stays ON with the ignition switch in the ON position and 
the park brake released, or comes ON while driving, the brake system must be 
diagnosed and repaired prior to performing the following tests. Refer to 
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . If no brake system problem is found, the following 
procedures will help to locate a shorted or open park brake switch sense 
circuit, or an ineffective park brake switch.

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Lamps/Lighting - Exterior - Service Information - Nitro

  

2. Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector from the cluster connector receptacle. Check for 

continuity between the park brake switch sense circuit cavity of the wire harness connector for the park 
brake switch and a good ground. There should be no continuity. If not OK, repair the shorted park brake 
switch sense circuit between the park brake switch and the instrument cluster as required.  

REMOVAL 

PARK BRAKE SWITCH 

Fig. 40: Identifying Park Brake Switch, Wire Harness Connector, Parking Brake Lever Mechanism & 
Screw 
Courtesy of CHRYSLER LLC 

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.  

2. Remove the console from the floor panel transmission tunnel. Refer to REMOVAL .  

3. Apply the parking brake lever mechanism (3).  

4. Disconnect the wire harness connector (2) from the terminal of the park brake switch (1) located on the 

left side of the park brake lever mechanism.  

5. Remove the screw (4) that secures the park brake switch to the park brake lever mechanism.  

6. Remove the switch from the park brake lever mechanism. 

WARNING:

To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable 
the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering 
wheel, steering column, airbag, Occupant Classification System (OCS), 
seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component 
diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) 
cable, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before 
performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to 
disable the SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in 
accidental airbag deployment.

 

2007 Dodge Nitro R/T 

2007 ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT Lamps/Lighting - Exterior - Service Information - Nitro