Chrysler Repair: 03 T&C Electrical, Ignition and ECM, inner fender, salvage yard

Question
We recently had a tire and oil changed,and within a day, our van would not start or even crank. We replaced the battery, tested the starter, and eventually found a mass of wires had been melted (to the wire harness?) and figured it had caused a short in the ECM. We found an ECM in a 2001 in a salvage yard and the van started right up.  We have yet to find someone to reprogram it,though. Dealerships aren't very helpful. Meanwhile, the van runs, but most of the electrical only works when the ignition is in the farthest back position. This includes the radio, the wipers, the windows, the blinkers, the blower, and the locks. Today it included the all the sensors and guages.  We can't pass inspection with out the reprogram, but even more concerning is the need to drive this vehicle with heat and guages! I'm writing on behalf of my hubby, who is pretty handy and can understand the technical stuff better than I. Thanks!

Answer
Happy New Year, Shawn!
May I ask for your help?
I need your vote of confidence.
I'm in a close race to be recognized as 'Volunteer of the Month' at Allexperts
Purely symbolic, but it means alot to me.
Please click on "Thank/rate the expert" button below/left
It will take you to a page which asks "Would you like to nominate this expert...?"
Click on the "YES"
That's it.
Thanks for taking a moment to help a fellow Chrysler-owner.

Roland

PS:Do it now, the contest closes at 6pm central time.





Hi Shawn,
I have the wiring diagrams for the '02 model year which are likely identical to your '03. Because I don't know which wires were shorted in the harness and where, nor how those were resolved, and also it is not clear to me what your mean by "the furthest back position" of the ignition switch. There are 33 fuses in the power box under the hood on the left side inner fender which should be checked to verify that all of them work to begin with. Then see what is on the list of non-working items and we can see which of them are supplied by the same circuit and focus in on the specifics to find the cause. Check fuses 4,14,19,20,24,28, as those service most of the systems that you say don't work.
Then tell me where things stand and more of the history and we can go from there. I am not clear why the ecm would be damaged but the new one would show up as a functional issue of the engine or transmission, or possibly the anti-theft system if it weren't programmed properly. How does it now prevent you from passing inspection? Which gauges and sensors don't work?
Roland