QuestionQUESTION: My t & C has lost blinkers heat and the overhead console (compoass, thermometer, mileage) When I replace the fuse everything comes back for a short while and works fine if van is not moving, but as soon as I take it anywhere everything goes away again. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, my front heat only works on the high posistion; don't know if this is connected but there you go. Thank you for your help.
ANSWER: Hi Chris,
That fuse #6 powers not only the items you mention but also the rear wiper motor, automatic day/night mirror (if equipped) and circuits in the body control module. So you need to identify which of these devices is drawing too much current. You can do that either with a digital ohmmeter at several pins on the junction block located under the dash or by trying to disconnect the items at the far end of the wires that supply them. If you have the meter let me know and I will list the measurement points you need to test.
On the "heat only works on the high position" do you mean the blower or the temperature of the blown air? If you mean the blower, then that is a fault in the blower motor resistor block located under the hood on the firewall, under the windshield wiper motor. It is a common type of failure and not expensire to replace. I can give you the details on that too.
Use the "thank/rate" tab below to get back to me without having to wait for me to be 'available' to take a question. Use the comment section. I would appreciate your consideration for a nomination as 'expert of the month'.
Thank you for your quick response, but my rear wiper works even when this fuse is blown. is it possible that there is some sort of short as it seems to happen more often when I am turning.
Hi Chris,
OK, maybe I have mis-identified the fuse. Can you tell me the number of the fuse (and whether it is under the dash or in the box under the hood) that you replaced to get these items to work again, even if briefly? There could be a problem in the steering column but first let us agree on the circuit(s) and fuse that is involved. Also what about the heat issue?
Roland
PS Thanks for the nomination.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: OK. it is the fuse panel under the dash drivers side. If I am counting left to right, it is the 13th fuse with a label 10A B/U lamp, which I assume means backup lamp but that also works even if this fuse is blown. Thanks again for your time.
Chris
ANSWER: Hi Chris,
My '98 manual (which I believe is similar/identical to the '97 as far as the fuse box goes) only shows 12 fuses across the bottom. The #12 is a 10 amp and it does power the b/u lamps and the turn signal/hazard flasher (what you are calling the blinkers?), but not the overhead console which appears to be powered by fuse #6 (20 Amp).
So please re-check the number, and also what about the heat?
Thanks for clarifying for me.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Sorry I should have been more accurate. its the 13th spot on the box but it is the 12th fuse. spot #10 is empty. as far as the heat goes, the fan position is stuck on high not the temp.
AnswerHi Chris,
How did things work out with the fuse blowing?
Earlier, last month, you asked me a question about that problem with your vehicle. Now I need to ask a favor of you. I am competing for the honor of being the "Expert of the Month" for December. You can help me by going the the 'thank/rate' tab below and look for the question that asks if you think I should be so-honored. If you would select the 'yes' option I would be most appreciative. Please do this before 6pm CST today, New Year's Eve when the competition ends. I wish that your Chrysler vehicle is running well and gives you good service in the New Year!
Roland
Hi Chris,
On the blower, it is likely the resistor block is bad. It is mounted in the firewall and accessed from the engine compartment, at least that is how it is shown in the '98 shop manual that I have. It is on the passenger side, with the resistors positioned in air intake plenum. It has a rectangular plug with 5 wires. You will see it very close to the right side strut tower, just below a 5 sided opening, under the wiper module. If you reach through the adjacent rectangular opening you can feel it.
Once you remove the plug, notice there are some etched dotted lines on the driver's side of the flange. Insert the tip of a screwdriver about the width of those lines between the flange and the firewall and gently push in on a spring clip tang while simultaneously prying outward to release the block from the firewall.
When you put in the new one, make sure the resistors are not touching one another.
On the fuse in the 13th spot, which is I hope the same as the one in th 12th spot of the '98 minivan manual as there is no 13th position shown in the diagrams, that one does provide power to the combination flasher unit which powers all the turn signal filaments which are also used by the hazard flasher system. I am not certain whether it is the combo flasher itself that is blowing the fuse or that one of the 4 bulbs is shorting to ground, or possibly one of the two back up bulbs that is shorting to ground. I would start by looking at the bulbs or if you prefer I can list all the pins of the underdash fuse box plugs that are attached to those filaments and you can measure the resistance to ground for each with a digital ohmmeter to identify such a short, if present. If that showed nothing untoward then I would suspect a short on the flasher itself.
As I mentioned earlier, the overhead console in '98 is shown to be on fuse #6 but possibly in your '97 it is also on fuse #13.
I will await your investigations/requests.
Roland
