pint4

My 98 Astro Van's problems started when I was driving home from Michigan one night. Driving along and the interior lights went on and would not shut off. Finally shut them off using the override switch on the dash. Next morning the battery was dead because somehow the lights still went on during the night. Eventually pulled the fuse to solve the problem. Changed the headlight control switch on the dash and that didn't help. Replaced door switch one at a time, still didn't help. Shortly after that the doors started to lock by themselves. One time I was outside the van scraping ice off the windows and the doors all locked and the van was running. Door locks just randomly try to lock themselves for no apparent reason. Then the radio started to act up. No sound even though it was off. Then the strangest thing happened, the radio would play when it was shut off. While turned off, it would scan the channels and you could hear it. Then one day, I turned off the van and the radio kept playing. I pulled out the key and locked the door and as I walked away the radio was still playing. Sometimes there is a crackling sound coming out of the rear speakers. There almost seems to be a relationship between the door locks locking randomly by themselves and the radio not having any sound even though it is turned on. Reminds me of the movie "Christine". Sort of spooky. Anyone have a problem like this. I like the Van otherwise.
Thanks.
Bob

diggin

I don't know about the radio problem but I had a remote keyless entry module go bad and it would leave the interior lights on and lock itself once in a while too. Mine acted up when my coil sparked out the side and caused it to go bonkers , after that my battery would be dead sometimes because that module controls the timing on your interior lights. I also heard that if your battery in the keyless is going dead they can lock the doors , but it wouldn't leave the lights on. That module is located right behind the radio so I wonder if there is a relationship between the two with a wire shorted ? You can just pull the dash off with the steering wheel down all the way and the shifter in 1st and pull the radio out by just pressing on the two levers on the sides and check it.

pint4

I was beginning to think the module on mine was bad also. What did you replace? Was it a new coil that fixed the problem or a new keyless remote module? Right now I have the fuse pulled for the lights but it is a real inconvenience to not have interior lights at night.
Thanks.
Bob

diggin

I had to change the coil , but never the module. I bought led lights instead , only because the lights only stuck on once every few weeks and we drive it almost every day so that helped save a bit of cash. Got them on ebay.

pint4

Do you think the coil is causing the problem on my van or are the two problems not related? How much does it cost for a remote key module?
Thanks.
Bob

diggin

My engine was running bad so I knew there was a problem with the coil as sparks were jumping out of it and the very first time the engine misfired my doors mysteriously locked by themselves while driving and right after that the lights would stay on once in a while. Your symptoms point to the module but as far as the coil I don't know about that . Modules are available at your local dealership.