Chrysler Repair: T&C Van Electrical: intermittent accessories, turn signals, radio power

Question
QUESTION: Periodically the electrical items (radio, power windows, turn signals,etc.) do not function when the car is turned on. Sometimes they come on all of a sudden while the car is in motion; other times I need to re-start the ignition to get them to work. What do you think is going on here?

ANSWER: I suspect the ignition switch itself has a flakey section, but to be sure tell me the year and also tell me all the specific items that don't work and I can then check the wiring diagram to see if it is indeed the switch.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have a 2008 Town & Country. Periodically (once every couple of days?), when I start the car, I find that the radio, turn signals, power windows, seats, etc don't work. Sometimes they come on again while the car is going, and sometimes they don't until I stop and re-start the car.

Answer
Happy New Year, Judy!
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I need your vote of confidence.
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Click on the "YES"
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Thanks for taking a moment to help a fellow Chrysler-owner.

Roland

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Hi Judy,
Because the car is so new, I don't have a manual for that year. But if it is similar to the wiring of the '02 for which I have a manual then it appears to me that the problem is centered on a relay in the centralized electrical power module/"intergrated power module" and that relay is called the 'accessory relay'. If you go to that box and open it you should find a 'map' on the lid or labels on the circuit board that will identify that relay. You could try finding a relay in the box that has the same part number (such as a blower motor relay, defogger relay) and is not crucial to the operation of the van, and switch the two relays and notice whether the affected systems that are intermittent become normal or not. If so, then just replace the weak relay. If it doesn't help then it may be a wire being loose or some such explanation. Also, it is probably new enough to still be under warranty so you could get a dealer to fix it for free but it would have to be subject to being tested when the problem shows itself. So if it won't act up reliable it would not be likely the dealer can repair it when it is not apparent. But the accessory relay is a good bet. The box is located under the hood, on the driver-side inner fender panel, just behind the headlight module.
Roland