QuestionQUESTION: I am considering buying a used Chrysler Town and Country Touring van. It is a 2004 model and the only thing that appears to be wrong with it is that the remote controlled rear sliding doors do not work. I was told by the guy selling the car that the dealership charges about 800 dollars to fix it. I am a single mom and was just wondering if there was anything that I could do to troubleshoot/fix this problem before taking it to the dealership. I do not want to be overcharged to fix something that may have been able to be fixed myself. Thank you for your advice.
ANSWER: Hi Alison,
Fortunately modern vehicles have a self-diagnostic capability that you can avail yourself of.
I would suggest that you go to an Autozone Parts store or similar nationwide chain and get a free fault code readout for any such codes that are stored in the memories of the engine/transmission/body control/power sliding door modules. There likely will be found to be trouble codes in one or more of those four modules that will point in the direction of what is wrong. If that readout doesn't produce codes, then try an independent repair shop that will also do a readout for about $40.
You would do well to look at fuse #31 located in the power distribution box in the engine compartment. That fuse is what power the sliding door module which is necessary to power both sliding doors. It it were blown the doors wouldn't work. Also, I assume you are speaking of the sliding doors on the left and right sides of the van, or do you mean the lift gate at the rear?
A code readout too is a good idea to do in any case because it will help you to know what else might be wrong. Get the fault code number(s), what it their name, what they recommend to do. Let me know the results and we'll go from there to figure out what to do. The owner should allow you to have this readout done as it is non-invasive, takes a few minutes, and can be done locally.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I took the van to o'reillys and the diagnostic showed no fault codes because the check engine light has not come on yet. At least, that is what the guy told me. The #31 fuse under the hood was fine too. What next?
AnswerHi Alison,
I suspect that the code reader at the autoparts store is not capable of getting the fault codes from the sliding door control module's memory*. Because there are about 50 different codes it would be very helpful to get a readout to focus our efforts. Two choices: check in the phone book for shops that specialize in auto electric repairs and call to see if they have a reader equivalent to the Chrysler Diagnostic Readout Box III which can get the sliding door control module readout and if so ask how much it will cost to do that. Then ask at the dealer for the same information. Decide which one to go to on that basis. Ask if the cost of the readout would be deducted from the cost of the repair if you authorize them to do the repair. Once you get the code name let me know what it is and I can tell you what the manual says needs to be done.
Roland
*The check engine light would not be involved in this door problem. It only comes on when the engine control module sees a problem.
