Chrysler Repair: T & C 1998: Power door lock problem, drb iii, power door locks

Question
Roland, is there a way to make the keyless remote only to unlock the doors
and not set the alarm? It seems that when I try to only unlock the doors
they lock again after releasing the key. It does not seem to work on any of
the doors. I find it strange that after disconnecting the negative side of
the battery and tapping it on the terminal until I hear a click or spark ,
then it seems to work or after lertting it sit for an hour or so.

Is the DRB III the same as the scanner that Chrysler uses for scanning
codes? I know they have one in Cancun, what would I need to ask them to
check on the car? I doubt they are very versatile on the instructions of how
to completely use it.
Thanks again,


Answer
Hi Mike,
Yes the DRB III is the corporate unit for troubleshooting the digital data system. See if they have the '98 Caravan, Voyager, Town & Country "body control manual". There is a section of about 64 pages that would allow them to try and diagnose the problem with your remote entry device and its refusal to maintain the unlocked condition. There are also 30 pages on the theft system, but that failure to star appears to just be the result of the rke failing to reliably unlock the doors.  I would suggest that you try to layout exactly what seems to be the non-function of that system and its consequences. Then they can try to relate that to one of the possible fault descriptions in the manual.  
I don't know of any way to make the rke only work in one direction (unlock only). I can't predict what the dealer can do, it depends upon the training and the possession of the shop manual for the "body diagnostic procedures". Can you avoid the whole thing by not using the power door locks at all?
One thing you might try is to see if there is dirt, corrosion, water, on the plugs/sockets of the body control module. that unit is mounted to the back side of the fuse box that is under the dash. If water leaked in around the windshield it can fall on those plugs and cause "electrical gremlins" that manifest themselves in various ways depending upon which pins are involved.