weird electrical problem

[holtonm]

1996 Chrysler T&C LX (short wheel base) 3.8, 200K miles
radiator fan motor on drivers side burn out. Replaced it ok, but now my driver's side headlight wont work, no radio (but lights on behind knobs), no power door lock unless ign switch is on. Wipers come on when I crank engine (one swipe), but they have been doing strange things for a while anyway.
One person said it could be the fan relay affecting it, but two service people on the phone said it's on a different circuit.
Yes all fuses have checked three times. Under dash and hood.
I'm assuming its a relay at this point or a short in my fuse panel and I'll need it diagnosed somewhere besides the dealer. I realize this isn't something that lends itself to this type of forum, but just in case someone has had the same problem.
Thanks.

[yogi_123rd]

Try disconnecting the battery for 30+ seconds. There is a Body Control Module (BCM) that controls things like wipers, lights which sounds like it could be in a screwed up state. Disconnecting/reconnecting the battery after 30 seconds will reset that module.

[HiRez_L]

Or it might take a 10 minute disconnection . . .

[holtonm]

Disconnected for 30 minutes for good measure, still not working. Thanks anyway.

[B33p3r]

What kind of strange things have the wipers been doing? When you disconnected the battery, both terminals? Just the + or just the -? I just curious aout the battery thing. Probably disconnected battery to service fan, Yes?

[holtonm]

I disconnected the negative.
Yes, it had been disconnected for the fan replacement.
The wipers have acted strangely in the past. Will suddenly stop mid-wipe or not stop in down position (now and then, mostly at start up). The rear wiper has sometimes made one swipe when the ignition is turned on for the last couple of years, now and then.
Also, after the fan replacement, I had cleaned all the contacts for all the fuses with electrical contact cleaner hoping that might help, but no difference.
When I get it tested I'll post what the problem is.

[trj93]

Originally Posted by holtonm

I disconnected the negative.
Yes, it had been disconnected for the fan replacement.
The wipers have acted strangely in the past. Will suddenly stop mid-wipe or not stop in down position (now and then, mostly at start up). The rear wiper has sometimes made one swipe when the ignition is turned on for the last couple of years, now and then.
Also, after the fan replacement, I had cleaned all the contacts for all the fuses with electrical contact cleaner hoping that might help, but no difference.
When I get it tested I'll post what the problem is.

I've had the similar issues with my intermittent wipers on my 98GC. It started a few years ago - the intermit. wipers would just stop in the down position, and I have to turn them off or to continuous to get it to go again. The problem has gotten worse, where they will stop anywhere, and will go several times when I turn them off. I replaced the wiper control, which didn't fix anything.

In addition, the front interior lights will flicker when set to come on when the door is open, but are fine if I turn them on manually.

Also, I've gone through about 3 batteries - on the 4th, because they die before their warranties are up. Leaving the interior lights accidentally on for the 10-15 min before they would shut themselves off automatically is enough to drain the battery. I've had to keep not just jumper cables, but a jump starter in the van.

I've had it looked at professionally, by a mechanic I trust, and a dealer, and no cause has been found yet for any of them individually, and I'm pretty sure they're all connected somehow.

I'll be interested to see what solution you find, if any.

[holtonm]

At least your battery hasn't blown up. Apparently there's a problem with the alternator or something overcharging them and they blow up. I had one do it and it wasn't fun.
We had the same trouble with an older truck we use to haul band instruments at my kids school, battery kept running down, so they installed a switch right off the battery that you turned on when you wanted to use it, kept the battery from being drained while it sat. Solved the problem. Just inconvenient if you're using it a lot.

[A. Souphound]

It sounds as if there are some battery drain issues. The easiest way I have found to locate them is to disconnect the (-) battery cable. Hook a trouble light between the battery terminal and the disconnected cable. The light will blink, (due to the Onboard computer memory circuit) but should not burn steady. If it does, that is an indication of a short. Disconnect the connectors to the alternator, and if the light stays on, reconnect the alternator. Next, start removing fuses one at a time until the light goes out....that will be the circuit you should check for a short.

Alvin

[B33p3r]

holtonm, Do yourself a favor and disconnect your battery again and give the terminals a good cleaning. It's possible your issues are coming from a poor connection. This would make sense, since your problems started after the fan replacement. Will try to figure out the wiper thing.

[HiRez_L]

Usually all those disparate items are contolled by the Body COntrol Module (BCM), which is an expensive part to replace, but is often fixed just by a battery disconnect, which is why we have been telling you to disconnect the battery. If a disconnect isn't working, you may also want to consider getting a new BCM from a junkyard before going to the dealer, as they are pretty expensive from a dealer. Just make sure that you get a clean one with no cracks if you get it from a boneyard, and try to get them to give you a guarantee that it works, or they'll replace it.

[trj93]

Originally Posted by HiRez_L

Usually all those disparate items are contolled by the Body COntrol Module (BCM), which is an expensive part to replace, but is often fixed just by a battery disconnect, which is why we have been telling you to disconnect the battery. If a disconnect isn't working, you may also want to consider getting a new BCM from a junkyard before going to the dealer, as they are pretty expensive from a dealer.

By BCM, do you mean the control switch on the steering wheel column that also controls the turn signals? I did have that replaced new part, less than dealer cost; more than junkyard. There was no change in the flaky intermittent wiper behavior. I also had the battery replaced (which means it was certainly disconnected), and still no change. The intermittent wipers stop at random intervals, and will not go again unless turned off (at which point they wipe once, sometimes more), or set at a constant rate.

[HiRez_L]

No, the BCM is a black box, kind of looks like an aftermarket amp, under the hood next to the fuse relay.