Chrysler Repair: 96 Intrepid ASD relay problem, remote car starter, jumper wire

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I have the same situation as this person had, Expert: Roland Finston
Date: 6/12/2007
Subject: 96 Dodge Intrepid won't start
whereas the car only runs when a jumper wire is connected directly from the battery to the coil pack.  I have gone through everything that you suggested to this person and have found that I have voltage to the actuator side of the relay, but not to the pin closest to the front of the car.  When checking the codes, I got a 42 & 43 which pretty much refers back to the ASD relay.  My questions is, where does the power originate that flows through this relay to the coil, etc.?  I have tried tracing the wire through the engine compartment and even removed a remote car starter that no longer functioned (not mine, I inherited it) thinking that this might be causing the coil to ground out or producing a loose connection.  Still nothing without the jumper wire.  There is another module behind the battery mounted to the inner fender that I believe is where this wire originates.  What is the purpose of this module?  Is it the power control module?  Could a defective one of these be causing my problem?  Also, what other sensors would have to be working, or not working, as to not allow voltage to flow through the ASD relay, that is, is it dependent on anything else, and why would it only effect the coil pack (and possibly the transmission module) but not the fuel pump?  Any insight on your part would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Jaymie

ANSWER: Hi Jaymie,
The power to the front pin of the ASD relay (pin B) comes directly from the battery via fuse B (next to rear of the 5 inner row of  fuses in that same box). It is 20 amp so check that to be sure that it is actually conducting as it may have a subtle crack in it. That is the only reason you shouldn't have 12V on the pin, and when the relay closes for you to have power to the spark coil, the injectors, the alternator. That same line also feed the transmission relay, the pcm and tcm all the time. So you would want it to have 12V on it for sure. The problem if it isn't the fuse has to lie with power distribution box itself. So check that fuse B.
Roland

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

QUESTION: Roland,
I checked the fuse for continuity and it's good.  There is also 12v coming into the fuse socket.  I actually took the distribution box apart to look at the wiring underneath, and the wire that goes to the front pin of the ASD, that is the pin closest to the front of the car, is a red wire with a white stripe.  It does not go to fuse you mentioned, but leaves the box and appears to go to the module behind the battery that I mentioned earlier.  There are several wires there of this same design, red with white stripe, so it is hard to tell which is which.  Does the power supplied through the ignition fuse flow to this module than back through the relay?  I cannot see where power would come directly from this fuse to the relay, unless it goes to the pin that actuates the relay, that is the pin closest to number 3 (AC clutch) relay.  I am still wondering what is the purpose of the module behind the battery.
Thanks again!
Jaymie

Answer
Hi Jamie,
The unit mounted on the left inner fender next to the battery is the TCM. The PCM is under the air intake box. You are correct, I was imprecise. The red/white leaves the fuse and goes to a splice that appears to be under that power box, where is send off four red/whites to the TCM (pin 56), the TCM relay (B), and the PCM (pin 3), and the ASD relay (B). It is called splice A14 and it is shown to be in that box. You could check the continuity between all those pins.
Roland

Thanks for the very kind evaluation and comment, Jaymie. I suspect that the A14 splice in question is the one you found near the TCM and that maybe it is corroded by battery acid which would explain why someone jumped around the ASD relay.
Roland