2001 electrical problems/check engine light

[rns1963]

Hello. I have encountered a weird problem - searched through this forum and found nothing the same. Here it is. This morning I went out to start up the van, all instrument panel lights worked as normal. I turned the ignition on and everything died without even cranking the engine over. I turned the key off and back on, and the instrument lights slowing came back on. Once entirely on, the van would still not turn over, and all the instrument lights went out again. The relays also seem to be clicking intermittantly in the PCM. I checked the battery, it read 12.74 volts. I cleaned the battery terminals and cables, and still get the same reaction from the battery. I went ahead and hooked up a battery charger, turned it over to "engine start". All the lights come on normally, but when I try to start the engine, I get a clicking sound from the engine compartment. Also, while the charger is hooked, I hear a buzzing sound from the instrument panel.
I was able to check the error codes and the only one that comes up is P1684 (battery was disconnected). But the check engine light does blink 10 times, and I have not found out what that means.
Does anyone have any ideas about what to do?

Randy

[dakotaslt49]

I had a similar problem that started last October. My wife went out to go to work as usual one morning and opened the sliding door behind the drivers seat. The interior light began to flash off and on, intermittently. The car wouldn't start until I jumped it off. Then it seemed to run fine. Next morning, same thing. Only this time it wouldn't start and had to be towed into the dealer. It was under warranty, but it took them a week to get the three computer parts they said it needed. That worked for a while, but then the battery started dying. It wouldn't hold a charge over the weekend. $200 later, with a cheap MOPAR battery, it worked again for about three weeks. Then the same battery problem. TWO 5-star dealerships told me the current drain was "within specs." The second dealership contacted Detroit and was told the same thing. The best battery Autozone sells would last about a month and then it needed to be trickle charged over the weekend. Chrysler was no help. I don't know what to tell you, especially if you dont' have an extended warranty. I'll tell you what I did. I traded it on a Pontiac Bonneville SSEi two weeks ago.

Originally Posted by rns1963

Hello. I have encountered a weird problem - searched through this forum and found nothing the same. Here it is. This morning I went out to start up the van, all instrument panel lights worked as normal. I turned the ignition on and everything died without even cranking the engine over. I turned the key off and back on, and the instrument lights slowing came back on. Once entirely on, the van would still not turn over, and all the instrument lights went out again. The relays also seem to be clicking intermittantly in the PCM. I checked the battery, it read 12.74 volts. I cleaned the battery terminals and cables, and still get the same reaction from the battery. I went ahead and hooked up a battery charger, turned it over to "engine start". All the lights come on normally, but when I try to start the engine, I get a clicking sound from the engine compartment. Also, while the charger is hooked, I hear a buzzing sound from the instrument panel.
I was able to check the error codes and the only one that comes up is P1684 (battery was disconnected). But the check engine light does blink 10 times, and I have not found out what that means.
Does anyone have any ideas about what to do?

Randy

[RHawk221970]

Try checking the starter and the fusible links.Tap thre starter with something (Hammer) while someone turns the key