The driving lights (actually they are parking lights), tailights and the radio light have intermittent flashing when I release the parking brake on my 2004 Ion sedan. If I turn the light switch on to actually turn on the parking lights or the head lights, everything clears up. I am ordering a parking brake warning switch thinking it turns on the driving lights and it is defective. Am I wrong?

 

Actually, it sounds more like there is an intermittant in the parking/headlight switch itself

 

You could be right. I disconnected the parking brake switch to see what would happen. The lights started flashing all the time (with the light switch in the "O" position) instead of just when the parking brake is off. So it looks like the switch is doing it's job. I thought if I disconnect the switch it would turn the lights off. So this parking light switch, which has only one wire going to it, over rides the light switch in the "O" position?

 

I have to rephrase what the driving lights, tail lights and radio light does with the light switch in The "O" position and the parking brake off. They rapidly flash. Intermittent was not the right word.

 

Do you have auto headlamps, if so cover the sensor on the dash and see if it still happens.

Have the battery and alternator checked UNDER LOAD to see what the AMP and VOLT output is.

 

Thanks for the responses. I took the Ion to Saturn of Totowa (NJ) and they replaced the two DRL harneses and what looks like two large ceramic capacitors. The cost was $221.97 which is fine because we need to keep them in business. Not all of the dealers that use to be around our area survived. They said they should be around for one more year with no promises.