Chrysler Repair: left side sliding door not working, drb iii, clutch control

Question
Our left side slider door will only open a few inches with remote key. It has to be manually opened and closed.  The right side slider door opens OK with remote and button on inside panel and upper console.

Answer
Hi Don,
Just on a chance you might try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, in fact once you have it disconnected touch together the two clamps, so as to reset the body computer (you will need to reset the clock and radio presets). If that doesn't effect improvement then you have to look into the powering of the door.
That door system is powered by a module that operates both doors and the latches with a single fuse so it isn't a fuse issue. It is either a motor or wire issue, or possibly a hall effect sensor associated with the door position detection. The motor is accessible by removing the upper trim panel above and behind the window area (5 push-in) and the main trim (13 puah-in) after removing screw from pull cup. The motor has a flexible drive that detaches, a plug, and fasteners which when removed allow the moor to be removed. Pins 3 and 6 of the motor plug (tan/brown, tan/orange) drive the motor so you could try to test that by jumping 12V to the motor across those two pins. If the motor doesn't move but grunts, then there is probably a mechanical obstruction in the drive mechanism. No action would suggest the motor is bad.
If the motor responds to the 12V jump, then the question is related to the wiring from the door motor module the motor or the body controller to the door module. The sliding door module has two plugs (8-pin and 20-pin). The motor is on pins 2 and 3 of the 8-pin and the 'hall effect device' signal shown as being in the motor is on pins 1 and 17 of the 20-pin, and finally the motor clutch control in on pin 7 of that same plug. It is possible to get a digital fault code readout from the system using a DRB III available at the dealer which may explain what is going on. If the motor spins but the door doesn't move that is a clutch issue. The hall effect sensor in the motor may be there to report a jamb up of the door motor for safety purposes, but it isn't explained in the manual what exactly it does and how its information is put to use. There is a safety system that senses an obstruction to movement and reverses the direction of the door in that happenstance, but again not explained as to how. So seeking a fault readout of the door system using the DRB maybe a worthwhile effort so as to avoid unnecessary parts/labor.
The specifics I have given you are from the '02 minivan shop manual.

Roland