2000 Grand caravan electrical issue

[robb4640]

We have a 2000 Dodge grand caravan sport that all of a sudden had this problem this morning

The turning signals, power door locks, blower fan all do not work at all, also the air bag light and the ABS light next to it remain on after the vehicle is running. I have checked the fuses and all seem to be ok. I have read on here that the air bag light being on may be related to the clock spring not working but that seems to be tied in with the cruise and horn which i have not check yet.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[hundahunta]

how's your battery cables and connections??, was your vehicle recently worked on.

[RIP]

Thanks for surfing in. Three things come to mind. > The battery as hundahunta pointed out. The electronics on these vans are sensative to low voltages and power spikes. A weak battery or corroded connections can create multiple simultaneous problems. A load test will prove the health of the battery. Most auto centers will do them. > The ignition switch. Different contacts in the switch parcel out power to different systems. One contact in the switch can effect several systems at a time. Next time you see this giggle the switch. I had some first hand experience with this just a few weeks ago. After driving down the road from a friend's house I noticed several lights on and door locks, windows, turn sigs weren't working. Sound familiar. I pulled back in the driveway and found the switch was ever so slightly stuck between run and start. I touched the key, it jumped to run where it should be and all was well. > The Body Control Module (BCM) and the CCD multiplex data bus. All the modules/computers in the van talk to each other over this bus. The slightest high resistance can create seamingly unrelated problems. The BCM is a key player on this bus and unfortunately controls most of the electronics in the van. You can reset the bus and the BCM by pulling the IOD fuse in the fuse box (PDC) near the battery for 2-3 minutes. Disconnecting the battery accomplishes the same. Keep in touch.

[robb4640]

Thanks for the quick reply, the van starts no problem and connections on the battery seem to be good and not corroded. When starting, the key seems normal when starting but i will try that also after work. I will disconnect the IOD thing to reset the other modules then will advise.

[RobBing]

I doubt I'll be of any help but my 98 had something similar happen. ABS and airbag light on, no cruise control and a couple of other things..... long story short, their was a recall on something and the dealership fixed it for free. You may check because it sounds close to the same issues I had.

[robb4640]

Ok i tried everything above and nothing changed, still no blower, no turn signals, no power door locks and ABS light and air bag light still remain on. Cruise light comes on and horn works so i am not sure if clock spring would be gone as everyone seems to note that those things don't work when clock spring is faulty.
Is it possible relays for all the things that are not working could be gone at the same time?
Any other suggestions??

[Spit]

Have you disconnected your battery...say for 15 minutes and then hooked it back up?...Worth a try

Spit

[RIP]

All but one of your failed systems (door locks) are powered in the same circuit off 10 amp fuse #12 in the junction block. Can you connect a volt meter or test lamp to either of it's contacts and see if you're getting 12vdc with the ignition switch in run? Should see the voltage at one of the fuse contacts. If it's not there you likely have a bad ignition switch though it could be the wire from the ignition switch to the fuse.

Do you see any other failures such as no gear position lighting (PRNDL), no heated seats, or anything else?

This many failures all at one time aren't caused by individual relays, however, if their common power source goes away then it can appear that is the case. That's what I'm hunting for with the above suggestion.

[robb4640]

Ok I have disconnected battery for long period of time, still no result, I was able to check fuse slot for blower and there is power there, and then i checked where relay is also and there is power on one of the four slots the relay plugs into so there must be power getting to the relay at least. I also checked the slots on the junction box under dash above fuses where #11 and #12 and there was power on one of them. So where can i check next?? I know the blower must be up under the dash on passenger side but after looking there is only a couple harnesses on the outside of the unit and there is a big black and big blue wire going into one spot, any other ideas??

[jpb53]

Ck the black wire with orange tracer at the ignition switch for power in the run position.

[robb4640]

How do I get to the wires behind the ignition switch? Sorry i have never pulled one off.

[jpb53]

The strg colummn shroud which is the coverjust behind the strg wheel. If you look on the bottom you will see some holes. In those holes are the screws that hold the shroud together and also to the column. Look at the screw heads; tey can be philips or torx. It also snaps together so you have to be careful with it; especially if it cold where you live. Plastic is very brittle when it gets cold. If the air bag worries you disconnect the neg cable from the battery and let the van sit for a couple of minutes before you start taking it apart