Adding Remote capability to 2001 Caravan

thatnigga · #1 10-03-2005, 01:15 PM

Ok I have a 2001 Dodge caravan. With the Key FOB that I have now I can unlock the doors and press the panic button all work. But as of right now anytime I want to open the back liftgate I have to turn off the car and use the key. I was wondering if there is any way to purchase and install a motor that will unlock the liftgate from the Key FOB. Also I know that this is also part of the remote sliding doors, so if either are possible for me to add now let me know where I can find the parts and any instructions on doing it. Thanks.

thatnigga · #2 10-06-2005, 12:19 PM

No one has any ideas on this?

neon_rt · #3 10-06-2005, 04:09 PM

Does the tailgate unlock when you press the unlock button from the Driver or Passenger side front doors?
And... is this a factory system or an install after the fact?

thatnigga · #4 10-08-2005, 10:10 PM

No when I unlock the doors in the car, it does not unlock the tailgate. As of right now the only way that I can open the tailgate is with the key. So I'm asking if there is anyway to modify this by adding something to the car to make it open with my FOB or by unlocking the doors in the van with the switch.

KManiac · #5 10-09-2005, 02:36 AM

I have a 1998 Chrysler Town & Country LX AWD with power locks and keyless remote entry. One push of the "unlock" button unlocks my driver door only. Two pushes of the "unlock" button unlocks both front doors, both sliding doors and the tailgate together. Your van should work the same way. Did you buy your van new or used?

I suspect that the power lock mechanism in your tailgate has ceased to function. This situation happened on my fathers 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 on his driver's door. To repair my father's truck, I had to replace the entire door catch mechanism, as the power lock was built into this assembly. You shouldn't have to add anything new, just replace what is broken.

When the power lock failed on the driver's door of my father's pick up, I would hear what sounded like an electric motor running inside the door for about one to two seconds when I pushed either the "unlock" or "lock" buttons. If you can hear a noise like this in your tailgate when you try to unlock the doors, then the power lock there is definitely broken. But noise or no noise, I think this is your problem anyway.

thatnigga · #6 10-10-2005, 01:12 AM

Ok I will look into this.

thatnigga · #7 11-09-2005, 08:59 PM

Well I have called a bunch of auto parts dealers and salvage places and nobody seems to know what this thing should be called. I have found it in my van but don't know what it's called, when I try to describe it to people they think I'm full of sh*t and say they don't have what I'm looking for. Does anyone know what this is called, or better yet where I might be able to find one?

harryliuusa · #8 11-10-2005, 10:39 PM

I got a 1999 same van as yours. Started to cost me heavy from this year. It has 105k now and the MPG sucks at about 14/18.

How is yours?

gromittoo · #9 11-13-2005, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatnigga

Well I have called a bunch of auto parts dealers and salvage places and nobody seems to know what this thing should be called. I have found it in my van but don't know what it's called, when I try to describe it to people they think I'm full of sh*t and say they don't have what I'm looking for. Does anyone know what this is called, or better yet where I might be able to find one?

I have a 2001 Voyager (lo-line), and my rear hatch definitly unlocks with via the power door lock switch on either of the front doors. If your hatch doesn't unlock, then the power lock on the hatch is either broken, or somehow never installed.

As for getting the part... I would try Junkyarddog.com. You post a message describing what you need. Over the next few days, you will get emails from yards. Somebody on JYD will understand what you need, or be willing to clearify what you need.

And don't worry about your email address getting in the hands of spammers. JYD's system is very well controlled.

thatnigga · #10 11-13-2005, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harryliuusa

I got a 1999 same van as yours. Started to cost me heavy from this year. It has 105k now and the MPG sucks at about 14/18.

How is yours?

Well I don't know what how big my gas tank is lol. It's actually my wife's car she drives it I just repair it. I think it's a 18 gallon and I just drove this weekend to Tucson which is about 400 miles away and I still had a quarter tank of gas left. So I think that's about 23mpg but I just changed my air filter (first time in the 2 years I've had it), and I change my oil with synthetic every 3,000 miles. Plus she only has used 76k miles on it.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD