1998 Caravan Possessed????

We have a 1998 Dodge Caravan Sport tha tmy father gave to us about 2 months ago. About a month ago, in the middle of the night, the thing began FREAKING out. The horn was honking (steady and constant, not bleating), the headlights were on and the wipers were going. It wouldn't start and the panic button the alarm did nothing. We had to unhook the battery cable to get it to stop. It started doing it every day after that. I would drive it, it would set a few hours and then start doing this! We took it to a dealership and they claimed it never happened for them and they had it over a week. We got it back home and a week after we got it home it started doing it again! We can't figure out what the heck is going on with this van! The only thing that is new on it is my Dad had the BCM (body control module) replaced before he gave it to us 2 months ago, then this started happening a month after that. I'm at a loss and I love my van but have no idea where to start looking for answers to this haunting! Please help!

I don't know if this will help you very much, but I have a '93 Grand Voyager and it has had a number of shorts and random spaz attacks in its history. The most recent was that the electric lock would activate when I pulled on the driver's side door handle. Quite an inconvenience, since that's precisely when I need the door to be unlocked. Anyway, only thing I could do was take out the fuse. If you're willing to go without the horn, you could take out the horn fuse until you figure out what is wrong, so that if/when it does go crazy it won't wake people up etc.

horn, headlights and wipers, one common thing, all have the same switch in the steering column.....

I suspect the clockspring which is an electrical interconnection between the rotating steering wheel and the rest of the vehicle. It carries the electrical signals to/from the airbag, cruise control switches and the HORN.

The clockspring was the subject of a recall for 1998 model T&C's and Caravans about 2 years ago. If yours has never been changed, then the warranty should cover it since it is a safety item that was recalled.

Good Luck and let us know how everything turns out.

C.B.

Might need to get that van exorcised.

If you don't pay for your exorcism, do you get reposessed?

Thank you to everyone who has responded thus far. We did end up taking out the horn relay to keep it quiet but simply keep the battery cable unhooked at night bcause if we can't hear it going off it can run down the battery. My dad is looking into getting the bcm replaced again at the shop it was originally replaced at and it is an original mopar part so it is covered. Nobody has ever heard of anything like this and it confuses the hell out of me. I will also have him ask about the clockspring! You guys have been VERY helpful!

Just thought I would update you on the possessed van issue. It's still possessed but in the shop now. Let it happen to them and see what they can figure out. We've theorized on everything but not it is really spazzing out and simply won't start after you hook up the battery cable again. Now the lights on the a/c buttons are flashing as well. My Dad's mechanic is trying to figure it out and until then, I am stuck at home with 3 kids and only have my husbands POS truck. I want my van back but I want it running RIGHT. Hell, I'd love for it to start and NOT spaz out in the middle of the damn night! I will post another update if we find out what is causing the problems.

Just thought I would update you on the possessed van issue. It's still possessed but in the shop now. Let it happen to them and see what they can figure out. We've theorized on everything but not it is really spazzing out and simply won't start after you hook up the battery cable again. Now the lights on the a/c buttons are flashing as well. My Dad's mechanic is trying to figure it out and until then, I am stuck at home with 3 kids and only have my husbands POS truck. I want my van back but I want it running RIGHT. Hell, I'd love for it to start and NOT spaz out in the middle of the damn night! I will post another update if we find out what is causing the problems.

I just went through something somewhat similar, weak battery, and finally my 2000 van stalling while I was driving. They finally diagnposed the problem...a fault in the EVS module. They had to catch it at the right time. What really makes me made is that this problem first surfaced at around 15,500 miles, but no one would listen to me. Now it will cost close to $400 to repair and Chrysler refuses to help out at all. I am on my 3rd battery in less than 5 years and nearly ran into a mailbox when the car stalled because I lost my power brakes and my sterring while I was going down a hill with a curve.

I suspect the clockspring which is an electrical interconnection between the rotating steering wheel and the rest of the vehicle. It carries the electrical signals to/from the airbag, cruise control switches and the HORN. The clockspring was the subject of a recall for 1998 model T&C's and Caravans about 2 years ago. If yours has never been changed, then the warranty should cover it since it is a safety item that was recalled. Good Luck and let us know how everything turns out. C.B.Ditto the clockspring and free dealer fix... sounds like the best place to start.

Nope They Have Tried Everything, Even A Brand New Bcm And It Still Didn't Work. Clockspring Has Already Been Replaced. They Have Shipped It To Another Dealership Now That Is Going To Access The Programming In The Bcm To See If They Can Find Out What Is Going On There.....if They Can't Fix It (this Is The Final Check, End Of The Rope) Then We Are Just Sol On Out Vehicle! Please Excuse The Caps.....

does this vehicle have a factory alarm in it. if it does this is what is happening the alarm is being tripped at night with a temperature change possible hood switch out of adjustments or faulty door switch.showing a door open when alarm is set alarm system will also stop vehicle from running until dissarmed

It does have a factory alarm but the factory alarm has nothing to do with the wipers going off at the time this all happens. They have tried all of the switches, followed wiring, taken out control panels and everything. Nothing fixes it.

check or replace the power distribution center

Oh one more thing i just thought of is the wiring harness in the left wheel well especially where the fender bracket attatches the fender the harness just sits on bracket then eventually rubs through and creates a short could cause any one of your problems you may have 2 problems alarm + wipers could be different problems or every thing there especially when no part has fixed or changed you problems

Update! Well, they THINK they have figured out the problem on my possessed caravan! This comes after only 2 1/2 MONTHS of being in the shop and a total of 2 different shops to boot!

Seems as though it can be one of 2 things at this point since they have already taken the thing apart from front to back and top to bottom. Either the programming in the BCM is wrong (mopar's fault as we are now on our 4th BCM!) and since that might be the case, mopar is sending a BLANK BCM to the dealership for them to program. If the BCM goes out again then it is a PCM problem. If the PCM is out it won't run the BCM and it's instantly ruining both.

Right now they are waiting on the new BCM to come in, they will program it there in the shop and if it works, we're done with all of this! If it instantly goes out again (like the last 2 have done) then it is the PCM and they will have to replace both. That will make 5 BCM's and a new PCM. At least we have an answer and know that we could be getting our van back in the next few weeks or so.

So, if anyone has the same problem I would suggest getting the PCM tested FIRST! If the PCM is bad, check the BCM after that to see if the PCM has thrown it out as well. If it's not the PCM have them check the programming of the BCM. I can't begin to imagine how much all of this is going to cost us!

Well, we got the Caravan back from the shop after 2 1/2 months of searching for the problem. Replaced the BCM for the 3rd time. Got it home and the wipers were going crazy, on all the time. Had to take it back and replace the BCM again, that made #4! It's back home now, no BCM problems anymore.

HOWEVER, I do have a question. For the past few years (from what my Dad said) the van will jerk when you come to a sudden stop. It happens when it downshifts to 1st and not all the time. Sometimes when it's cold or the van hasn't warmed up enough and intermittently during other times. It feels like I have hit something it jerks so hard when it does this. What could be causing this? My Dad took it in back when it started and was told that it was the tranny and the only thing they could do was replace it. The fluid is clean, no filings in the pan. It's a 98 Caravan, 3.3L, 6 Cyl with 93K miles on it. Any ideas?

:screwy: Hi everybody, I have a 96 Caravan sport. The alarm started to sound the horn and lights2 days ago, and it went crazy i went down to the garage 4 times the second time the police were already there :banghead: . Anyways, I sprayed all the doors electric switches with DW-40 then lubricated the door locks with theat too and topped it with white grease, to enhance the secure closing thus having secure electrical contacts. Its been a day now and I hope that should do the trick, I`ll update you guys later if it comes back. :uhoh: :uhoh: :uhoh:

Well I think mine is possessed also. I now know the feeling. First my radio kept cutting out. Then the van would die and not start back up for hours. Next day the rdio cut off completly and the windows stopped working. Next all the same but the Air joined in as well. Everytime something quits working the van wil die then start up a couple hours later like nothing ever happened then it starts all over. Altenator is fine but my battery light has been coming on for couple months now but had it check and it read fine. Not sure what it is Probably going to cost an arm and a leg to fix.

:screwy: Hi everybody, I have a 96 Caravan sport. The alarm started to sound the horn and lights2 days ago, and it went crazy i went down to the garage 4 times the second time the police were already there :banghead: . Anyways, I sprayed all the doors electric switches with DW-40 then lubricated the door locks with theat too and topped it with white grease, to enhance the secure closing thus having secure electrical contacts. Its been a day now and I hope that should do the trick, I`ll update you guys later if it comes back. :uhoh: :uhoh: :uhoh:
Hey guys!!!! it looks like the WD-40 has done it again, no more alarm starting by itself, no crazy horn or lights. And make sure to lubricate the alarm switch under the hood on the driver side and work the switch up and down a few times while spraying with Dw-40. Good luck to you guys, :) :smokin: :smokin: :smokin: :smokin: