97 Grand Caravan Limited issues

[rattler02]

I am the proud "new" owner of a 97 Grand Cherokee Limited 4.0 4x4 Automatic I believe it is a ZJ???. She's got around 154,000 on her but she is in good shape, now I have a whole new "world" of vehicle to learn.

Here are my first troubles, I am getting the "coolant sensor bad" error, (which I think I already have the solution to, going to check the connections to the VIC ) and driving it today I got my first code if I am remebering right it was a P0783 3-4 shift ( I know the text part is right "3-4 shift" but I might be wrong on the actual code #) any ideas why????

[dksob81]

Yes it is a ZJ.

As for the "COOLANT SENSOR BAD" message, it could be a bad COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR in the overflow bottle or broken wire at the VIC. I had this message on my new ZJ and replaced the sensor in the bottle and did not help, I then tore the VIC out and checked the wires (Pink/Black wire for the coolant level sensor) but could not find any that looked bad. So I soldered a 3.2K resistor across the terminals of the plug and the light didn't come on so I checked the resistance on the sensor and it read about 3.2K, So I melted the solder and remove the resistor then plugged the sensor in and haven't had the message since then, that was about 2 weeks ago. I think the plug wasn't making good conatact and caused the message, so with the lil bit of solder still in the plug it helped make good contact.

Code P0783 - 3-4 shift solenoid, No rpm drop @ 3-4 shift. The ratio of engine rpm/output shaft speed did not change beyond the minimum required.

[rattler02]

Originally Posted by dksob81

Yes it is a ZJ.

THANKS

Going to have to start checking things for the coolant sensor issue.

Code P0783 - 3-4 shift solenoid, No rpm drop @ 3-4 shift. The ratio of engine rpm/output shaft speed did not change beyond the minimum required.

Does that mean it did not shift? or did it just not meet the computer's min requirements ??? I was playing with the OD button, I couldn't tell if the button was working it was too bright out to even see if the light was coming on above the switch, when I "shaded it" I could see the light come on but could barely tell a difference in the "driving".

[dksob81]

I honostly couldn't tell what that code would pop up for, I have never experienced that code or even seen that code, you might want to try a google search, or even try to search the forum, for tha code and see what you can find.

[rattler02]

Originally Posted by dksob81

I honostly couldn't tell what that code would pop up for, I have never experienced that code or even seen that code, you might want to try a google search, or even try to search the forum, for tha code and see what you can find.

THANK YOU for being honest about it, I'll see what I can find out.

[rattler02]

Well the coolant sensor was a faulty connection on the back of the VIC, I cleaned it put some dielectric grease on the conacts and all is/was working right.

I put it all back together, then I drove the truck about 20 miles and on the trip the VIC just went blank??? It shows no info at all now, if I press any button it flashes the time & date around 11 times and then goes blank again. This Jeep is starting to live up to J-ust E-xpect E-very P-roblem and I haven't even owned it a week yet. Before it would beep at me and tell me I had a "bad coolant sensor" 30 minutes of looking at a VIC showing nothing wrong and POOF now it is blank, at least before it worked LOL.
Any Ideas what has happened now, it shows no diagnostic codes.

It is kind of disturbing that when I google this problem, I only get MY posts. Uh-OH I can't be the only one this has happened to???

[rattler02]

Anyone got a diagram/schematic for the plug on the VIC to say what wires do what???

[dksob81]

email me i will send you the piinouts for the Vehicle Information Center.....

Joe
[email protected]

[rattler02]

Thanks, it tuned out to be the #6 fuse after all. Replaced it and all is well.

[kahjdh]

To fix the connection at the VIC do you have to take it out from the inside or is there a computer on the firewall some where?

[rattler02]

Originally Posted by kahjdh

To fix the connection at the VIC do you have to take it out from the inside or is there a computer on the firewall some where?

You will have to remove the VIC itself, basically you start at the glovebox and work left removing the "trim". On the left (drivers side ) of the trim surronding the VIC it clips to the piece under the steering wheel, hold the piece under the wheel and push the piece that surrounds the VIC forward to un snap it. Once this is removed there is three screws holding the VIC in place, remove them and pull the VIC out. On the back of the VIC there is a plug, remove it clean it with some "plastic safe" electrical cleaner, let it dry, put some dielectric grease ( to ensure a good connection, which BTW the black & pink wire in the #1 cav is the one causing the problem ) and plug it back in and it will probably solve your problem for the "bad coolant sensor" providing your sensors are good.

[kahjdh]

Thanks, problem solved. I think this should be a sticky b/c its a common problem.