QuestionRoland,
Please see the questions and reply's below to see if you may can help. I've included Kevins answers for you as well.
Thanks,
Scott
Hello,
We are sorry, but Kevin wasn't able to answer your question:
QUESTION: 1998 Chrysler Town & Country randomly will start & run for 3 to 5 seconds then shut down. Then it will start and shut down for three or four times then it will not turn over at all. Time seems to be the only fix as I can leave the van sitting for several hours or even days and it will start and run normally until this sequence repeats. I've tried taking the battery terminals off for over an hour sometimes this works but not always. I've also unplugged the body control module and re-plugged with some success as well. Just unplugging the two plugs on the bottom of the bcm does not help. Is there a permanent fix for this and is Chrysler aware of this problem? In my searches for answers and solutions to this problem it is evident that this is a problem with these vans.
ANSWER: does the instrument cluster work when it wont start?
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QUESTION: Yes, the rpm gauge works however I have noticed occasionally in the past while riding down the road that the instrument cluster was not working at all just like the vehicle was turned off and sitting still. But I have stopped and turned the van off and restarted and the cluster start working. I've not seen this happen very often but the shut down problem occurs much more often. I have been just not locking the van when parking and this seems to help some, however it continues to randomly get into the shut down mode, maybe just not as often.
ANSWER: next time it wont start see if the cluster is working at that time or not if not bang on the top of the dash until the cluster starts working again then U should be able to start back up.
QUESTION: The van was in shut down mode this morning with the instrument cluster working, any suggestions if the cluster is working?
ANSWER: Hi Scott,
You didn't mention the routine manner in which you are locking up the van. If you use the power door lock then exit, use the key lock, or use the remote, any of those will arm the vehicle security system. Then the problem occurs when it isn't disarmed properly when you enter the vehicle and try to start it. That behavior is characteristic of a non-disarmed attempt to start.
The disarm is supposed to happen via the remote or the wire from the key lock to the body computer but the wire/switch can be flaky and probably the remote may similarly fail to disarm the system.
You can check out the electrical reliability of the key lock switch/wire as one approach, or try disarming via the passenger side lock which may not be flaky. Or finally you can avoid the problem by not ever arming the system . That can be done by only availing yourself of the mechanical push-button interior locks when you exit.
See if that in fact stops the problem. Then if you want to utilize the theft system I can tell you the wire connections to the door locks and you can troubleshoot it. But at least this avoidance approach will get rid of the hassle.
Roland
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QUESTION: Roland,
There were no codes via the computer. Another possible clue is that sometimes while driving the vehicle all the doors will unlock by themselves. Mostly its while breaking to a stop or when taking your foot off the brake after being stopped when this happens. The doors then stay unlocked until the van is turned off then restarted and driven to the 20mph for the auto lock to take place. I have in the past locked the van then come back to the van later to find it unlocked (all the doors). Can the electric locks be unplugged @ each door therefore eliminating a possible flaky switch being connected to the bcm? Can the alarm system be disabled.
AnswerHi Scott,
The alarm system is integrated as part of the bcm so it can't be disabled by pulling a single plug. I would start by moving the door latches of the driver and passenger doors in-board enough to be sure that it is firmly pressing into the door opening when in the closed position. Also check the sliding door similarly. If a latch is too loose then the door ajar switch gets a false alarm such as when you brake and the body flexes. That alarm causes the door lock system to respond which may be how this all begins.
Other than that, you will have to troubleshoot the power door lock system using the wiring diagrams. I can xerox copy the four pages and postal mail them to you. Tell me whether you have the remote keyless entry feature or not, and a mailing address.
As to the codes, the only way to get body computer codes is via a plug in code reader that accesses that unit memory. Was that what you did?
Roland
