2001 Caravan Headlights

First off, I'm new to the site, I'll try to behave, but no promises!! Noticed over the summer months that one driving light was out, at one point I could have swore they changed, drivers to pass. Finally got around last week to change out the bulbs, here's the senerio. start vehicle, drivers running light only, turn headlights on, pass, side only lights up. Hit high beams drivers side only lights up, the only thing I can guess is the Hi/Low switch on the column. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!


Thanks
James

First, driving light/parking light same same correct?

First thing to try is to pull the IOD fuse for 5 minutes. If that doesn't work disconnect the negative battery cable for the same. This will reset the Body Control Module (BCM) and the PCI data bus it controls. The BCM controls most of the electronics on the van including exterior lighting. That leaves one more culprit.

The Front Control Module (FCM) has a history of causing all sorts of exterior lighting issues including the wacky one you have. The FCM is a microprocessor stuck in a silver box on the front of your IPM (fuse box). The connection between it and the IPM has a history of corrosion problems and/or the contacts just breaking contact on their own. What to do?

Disconnect the negative battery cable and isolate it. That prevents any voltage spikes. Remove the four bolts securing the FCM to the IPM. Pull it loose. Check the contacts for any corrosion or misalignment. Pay particular attention to the wide spade contacts. Clean any corrosion with electrical contact cleaner. Slightly bend or twist the spade contacts. Headlight contacts are #s 3,4,5,6. Put it all back together. Connect the battery cable.

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RIP;
Ok, turn signal/ running lights , problem free. This problem only effects the head lights. So I'm clear; in normal operation, are the head lights lit when the vehicle is running and the head light switch is in the off position? The problem is that only one head light at a time will light up. if I change from low beam to high beam using the turn signal hi/low switch the only way to energize two lights is to pull up and hold the high beam switch manually. I'm thinkig a possible swith falure. Removed the FMC as per direction, no corrosion, very clean infact

Thanks
James

Well that's what happens when I try to answer 3 posts on three forums at the same time. I deleted the last bit about testing the turn sigs in my post.

Based on scouring forums for several years, the FCM or it's connection to the IPM or the IPM (fuse box) are the most reported fixes, when there's a fix posted. Did you try the BCM reset? Did you try bending the spade contacts on the FCM? I'd lean away from the headlight switch but I can't say it's not the problem **. Many times it is the fix for flickering headlights. Probably worth investigating. Some just disassemble and clean it with success. Others have had to modify it to make it work.

Here's a few examples of the FCM/IPM issue:
http://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-caravan/305733-01-strange-headlights.html
http://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-caravan/201079-headlight-problem.html
http://www.topix.net/forum/autos/dodge-grand-caravan/TFGKS9O3LLH1ABOBM Scroll below the yellow banner for fixes.

**Why am I leaning away from the headlight switch? The switch completes a circuit to ground in the BCM. The BCM then sends the "on" signal over a single wire (the PCI data bus) to the IPM then the FCM. It appears the IPM is just a conduit to the FCM. The FCM then turns that single data bus input into four separate outputs; left low beam, left high beam, right low beam, and right high beam. On the flip side, there is a resistor network in the headlight switch. Not sure how that effects the data bus output from the BCM. The mystery is the data bus output can handle many signals at the same time so I'm not sure how that would effect the FCM driver circuits. In a few words, is it the switch resistor network that determines which headlights turn on or the FCM light driver circuits? I can't be absolutely sure.

RIP;
Much apreciated , bang on, pulled the module, slightly twisted the tabs clockwise everythig started to work. fastened it back down , everything went off again. Messed with it a bit , changed the twist to counter clock wise, bolted it down, MINT!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you very much!
James.

Glad to hear it worked.