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Caravan/Town & Country Electrical Problems

652 messages,  Last post on May 01, 2013 at 8:12 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Caravan, Electrical, Van


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Messages Page 57 of 66

#560 of 652 2002 Chrysler Town and country by fourcc

Jun 29, 2011 (1:44 pm)

I have had the same problem. All dash lights come on, air conditioner comes on, wipers turn on, Indications you are in all gears at the same time. Took it to dealer told it was computer. We change computer, they then suggest we invest in tracing wires to prevent it fromhappening again. I decline. guess what happened. It happened again and they are telling me They told me it was in the wires. We finally trace wires and never find problem. Chrysler cost me $1,300 and never fixed it. I gave car away and person I gave it to changed a cluster in dash board, he got from a junk yard. Hasn't had a problem since.

#561 of 652 Re: Tmech [tmech] by lkr1

Jul 01, 2011 (8:39 am)

Replying to: tmech (Feb 10, 2008 1:37 pm)
Wondering if this issue was ever fixed? I have a 2002 T&C and have been dealing with this issue for over a year. I have taken it to the mechanic several times, but nothing has fixed the problem. Originally, the problems only occurred when it was raining, or wet but now it's most of the time. Also I used to be able to get everything to work with the key was in the AC position, but now not so much. I've taken it to 3 different mechanics, I'm afraid the 1st one may have actually made the problem worse - he had it for 6 weeks last summer and when I took it somewhere else a few months later, they said the wiring under the dashboard was all melted - they said they were pretty certain there had been a fire under the dash, as there was a hole burned into the carpet from the melted wire casing. He advised junking it, unfortunately, I still owe money on it - and actually I really like the vehicle - minus the electrical issues. I've grown used to not having the wipers, but not having A/C or windows, that's a problem. I figure eventually if I don't find someone that can fix it - I will have to junk it. Any help or advise would be very much appreciated.

#562 of 652 Re: Tmech [lkr1] by mandymeier143

Jul 01, 2011 (11:37 am)

Replying to: lkr1 (Jul 01, 2011 8:39 am)
We got ours at a specialist right now. It does the same thing as yours. We are told to replace the Instrument Cluster ($100). That is where the whole problem lies. But in the process of the instrument cluster going out it also burnt out the BCM Body Control Module ($300 to send off and get rebuilt) and the PCM Power Control Module ($300 to send off and get rebuilt) But am told it will work perfect now and never do it again. So total of $700 minus labor. Which isn't too bad if it finally fixes the problem for good.

#563 of 652 Re: Town & Country Dashboard-Circuit board problems [mandymeier143] by chrys1999

Jul 06, 2011 (6:56 am)

Replying to: mandymeier143 (Jun 07, 2011 8:26 pm)
Hello
 
I had the same problem and after taking it to the dealer and them not knowing what was wrong, wanting to replace the bcm and possibly the pcm (based on DTC reading) I did extensive research and found out it was a printed circuit board in the dash board. I took it back to the dealer, they of course checked and couldnt find anything. I told them to check the circuit board voltage and it was low. therefore they replaced it and have not had a problem since.

#564 of 652 Re: Tmech [lkr1] by ale12

Jul 06, 2011 (3:37 pm)

Replying to: lkr1 (Jul 01, 2011 8:39 am)
I have a 1999 T&C. This problem has harassed me for the last two years. At first all the guages would quit working. A smack on the top of the dash would cause the guages to start working again. The problem was intermittent like this for several months and then all of sudden, no matter how hard I hit the dash, the guages would never start working again but, except for the windshield wipers, the van continued to run great. Then out of the blue the car would not start. Everything seemed dead. The auto shop replaced the PCM ($750) and the car started. I drove the car for another six months (with no guages). Then one day I tried to start the car and it would only run for 2 or 3 seconds. Another tow to a different mechanic..... he changed the PCM again. I took the car home and it worked for 2 days, then it would not start again. It was completely dead. I know the frustration you're experiencing. I decided to do a little research and found many T&C owners with similar problems. It appeared to me that most complaints seemed to point to the printed circuit board behind the guages. One in particular, suggested that the alarm sys goes through this board and that is why the engine dies after 2 or 3 seconds. I took the dash apart, removed the circuit board, and carefully checked all solder connections. I fould a bad solder joint on one of the pins on the main connector. I re-soldered the pin, put the dash back together and my van has been running with all the guages working ever since! It's starts every time now, and I have regained confidence in it's dependability once again.

#565 of 652 Re: Van quits while driving [katirish] by miriamvarela3

Jul 23, 2011 (11:48 am)

Replying to: katirish (May 31, 2011 12:41 pm)
change the camshaft sensor, that happen to my moms van and yes like you say it was scary but i replace that sensor and problem solve.
 
good luck

#566 of 652 2005 DGC 'Dashboard Disco' (video) by ljbennett

Jul 27, 2011 (11:47 pm)

I have a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan, and for the first year we had it, it worked beautifully. About 18 months ago it started acting up. The entire cluster freaks out, the air flow stops, the radio shorts out, the headlights flicker continuously, and the warning lights come on and the van makes that 'ding' noise (like when you leave the key in). Sometimes it feels like the engine pulls a bit, not sure how to explain that one.
 
We have replaced the BCM, we have replaced the alternator twice, we have replaced the battery twice, and we have replaced the starter once. The van has been to 2 different Dodge dealerships (in 2 different states), 2 run-of-the-mill mechanics, and an electrician. We have sunk a LOT of money into this thing and still have no answers.
 
We replaced the battery again in March, and it wasn't driven for 3 days and the brand new battery was dead. The sliding doors don't lock, and they won't open with the key or the buttons, you must open them manually. The back hatch is super finicky on when it will open. Every time we take it to be worked on, it seems to run fine for a few days and then starts freaking out again. When we first had the problems, we took it to a dealership and they could find no problems so the manager said it was probably the BCM. I took his word and replaced that. It ran perfectly fine until the day after the part warranty expired (ain't that the way it always goes?). We were weeks away from a military cross-country move at that point and had to try and figure it out. It somehow fixed itself and we made it from TX to OK just fine. Drove around in OK for a few weeks no problems. Made it from OK to OH just fine and 3 days after we got to OH it started acting up again. The dealership here looked it over, charged us and told us there was nothing they could do since they can't replicate the problem. The electrician had it for almost 2 weeks and couldn't find anything.
 
I have no idea what to do...please help!!!!!
 
(Here's a link to a video my husband took of it happening while he was driving) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9gKZBeGZIU&feature=channel_video_title

#567 of 652 Re: Ignition switch to acc mode [chester17] by linda456

Aug 08, 2011 (7:12 am)

Replying to: chester17 (Jun 22, 2011 6:17 am)
Thank you for sending me the link regarding the recalls for the ignition problem. I contacted Chrysler ( not the dealer) and told them my 2008 T&C was shutting off just as the recall had stated for the 2009 and 2010 T&C vans. After Chrysler contacted the dealer, they were willing to work with me. After some research, the dealer found that my key would get stuck in the START position and then when I would hit a bump, the key would jump past the ON position to the ACC position which shut the car off. I finally will be getting a new ignition module this week at no cost to me.

#568 of 652 Re: Town & Country Dashboard-Circuit board problems [ale12] by angeladmiller

Aug 17, 2011 (1:47 pm)

Replying to: ale12 (Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am)
Hello, the problem I had with my van was that the dashboard wasnt working and the car would start for 2 seconds then shut off. after spending a lot of money trying to get it fixed we found out the problem...it is the dashboard area where the speedometer and other things are. we had that replaced and havent had a problem since. The wiring is faulty so after a while you may need to replace it again, but we havent had a problem since we changed it out (cost 20 bucks at pick and pull) and its been six months.

#569 of 652 Re: Town & Country Dashboard-Circuit board problems [angeladmiller] by lucky2555

Aug 19, 2011 (10:22 am)

Replying to: angeladmiller (Aug 17, 2011 1:47 pm)
My daughter has the 1999 town & country minivan. she has been to 2 auto repair shops and her problem sounds similiar. When she runs the air the car doesnt go out of first gear and it will cut off. Check engine light comes on at will and the power windows work when they want. Turn signals also work at will. What is the name of the part you got from the junkyard?

Messages Page 57 of 66

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