Key-in-ignition reminder won't stop

[daleeh]

All of a sudden my key-in-ignition chime "barks" whenever I open the driver's door no matter if the key is in or out of the ignition. I tried blowing the dust outr of the lock cylinder with canned air and even squirted a small amount of lubricant in it, but it still won't shut up.
Any way to avoid a trip to the dealer?
It's a 2002 Grand Caravan.

[theFREAKnasty82]

there are a 2 things that could be wrong, a bad Body Control Module, that controls the chime, or a bad door switch sending a false signal to the BCM. Check the door switch first, make sure it's not jammed, or damaged.

[daleeh]

Thanks for the quick response. Now for the really dumb question--where is the switch located? I've looked allover the door and see no obvious switch--at least nothing I recognize. I guess they don't use the little plunger switches anymore?

[daleeh]

Oh yeah, I almsot forgot- the courtesy light seems to work normally, so if it's the same switch, then it would appear to be working. I was thinking maybe something might be wrong with the way the ignition key sensing works, but can't figure out how it "knows" the switch is in or not.

[theFREAKnasty82]

well, for now, I'm going to rule out the BCM theory, I'd try by taking the black covers from around your steering column and checking your connections at the ignition switch, make sure their intact and not loose.

[daleeh]

Looks like I've got somehting to do this weekend.
Do you know where the door switch might be located? If nothing else, I'm curious.

[horndawg54]

Originally Posted by daleeh

Looks like I've got somehting to do this weekend.
Do you know where the door switch might be located? If nothing else, I'm curious.

I have a similar problem the chime go off on their own regardless of the door. I have been told that the BCM is under the steering colum, even though one post says it in under the hood on the passenger side. I could not find it there. I did notice that there is a clicking under the steering column on the right side when I turn the door switch off and on. I am assuming that is the BCM My problem is getting the cover under the steering column off without breaking it. ANY IDEAS.

On my 96 Ply Voyager, the door swithch are where the door hits the door stop part of the frame. near the bottom..a black spring-loaded swithch.

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[daleeh]

Well, now I feel really STOOPID! Since the problem began just a day ago, I hadn't really noticed one OBVIOUS clue--the courtesy lights were staying on longer then expected. Since they go off gradually everytime, I hadn't noticed the longer duration. When I drove off this morning, the "light bulbs" went off in my apparently dense brain! Then I looked at the dash light dimmer switch and noticed it was in the top position which turns the courtesy lights on--DUH!

Now I know that the "hey stoopid, you left the dash light dimmer switch in the top position" chime sounds exactly like the "hey stoopid, you left the key in the ignition" chime! I didn't even know it would "bark" if the interior dimmer rheostat was rolled to the top position when you open the drivers door--and the drivers door only--nothing else triggers the warning. I guess I need to review my basic fault isolation technique!

Anyhow, thanks for the advice. I still don't know where the door switches are on my 2002 Grand Caravan, but now I know that some chimes/reminders sound the same.