Chrysler Repair: 300m heater/windows/blinkers stopped, amp fuse, fatigue crack

Question
QUESTION: All at once the turn signals, power windows, heater control stopped working and the ABS, brake and air bag lights are on. I tried checking fuses but could find none blown.  Car starts and runs fine.


ANSWER: Hi Tim,
I don't know the year of your car, but looking over the Chrysler engineering in the LH body cars of the late 90's it appears to me that a fuse that powers one section of the ignition switch that is only in "on" when the engine is running has probably blown/cracked, so that several systems handled by that part of the switch were taken out. If you didn't look in the power distribution center located under the hood, that is where to go. It is rectangular and near the radiator on the driver's side, between a couple of electronic modules. Look insode for a 40 amp fuse, maybe in position O, but in any case check all fuses in that box. There could be a simple fatigue crack in the internal wire, or it could be frankly blown. Let me know if that doesn't solve the problem. If you find one and it blows again when you replace it, then we have to find a short circuit.
Roland

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

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick reply. The car is a 1999. I checked all fuses in the car and under hood and everything looks good. Could it be in the ignition switch?  How hard is that to change?

Answer
Hi Tim,
It is not hard to change the switch, according to my '98 LH body manual. Disconnect the battery, remove tilt lever attaching screw and tilt lever, remove upper and lower steering column covers, remove SKIM module (if equipped), rmove multi-function switch, disconnect electrical plug from ignition switch, remove mounting screws from switch. When installing, match up the slot in switch to the tab on the switch, also a notch in the housing align with a shaft in the lock cylinder.
Before replacing the switch, I would once you have it exposed, reconnect the battery, and then test for 12V to be present on the dark green/red, dark blue/white, black/white, black/orange wire when the key is in the run position (pins 1,4,6,10) assuming that my '98 manual applies to your '99. If all those show 12v then it isn't the switch.