Chrysler Repair: turn signals and blower maybe short, chrysler town and country, amp fuse

Question
QUESTION: 1998 Chrysler Town and Country LXI 3.8 automatic two wheel drive.
When the van is running in park or in gear, the turn signals, blower and gear shift indicator work somtimes and sometimes not. Checked battery and ground connections. Checked instrument cluster for cold solder joints, checked connections on BCM and junction box. Sometimes when I move the gear shift lever from park to reverse or drive all of the above will work. Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Curt,
Just responding to 'clear' the 'pool'. I hope my answer works for you.

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

QUESTION: Hi Roland,
Yes #12 fuse in the JB was bad. Replaced and everything has fine for a short while. During the time everything was working the backup ligts were on when the van was running and in park. They were off when in reverse and in nuteral and drive. Then the 10 amp fuse burned out. Am I looking for a short or problem in the ignition switch? Or just need to replace the ignition switch?  Thank you for all your help. Curt

ANSWER: Previous answer:
Hi Curt,
Those 3 problems appear to me to be either an intermittent fuse #12 in the junction block (fuse box) under the dash or the section of the ignition switch that supplies power to that fuse in the run position is flakey. So check the fuse for a subtle crack in the wire, and it that look fine then measure for 12V to be on the fuse when the problem appears. If not, then try spraying some circuit board cleaner with a straw applicator through cracks/holes in the ignition switch to see if you can restore the internal contacts. If not, replace the switch.
It is good you checked the things you did, so far, as those were possibilities.
Roland



Current answer:
Hi Curt,
I don't think the ignition switch is the problem but more likely it is the circuit from the #12 fuse to the transmission range sensor (automatic transmission) or the park/neutral safety switch (manual transmission). That white wire is on pin 18 of the upper left plug of the four plugs on the fuse box. I would pull the plug and see what it shows as the resistance to ground (i.e. if it is less than 1 ohm which will blow the fuse). Try doing that reading in all the positions of the shift lever. While there are a number of other items also drawing on that fuse, your observation about the back-up light being 'on' in an unusual manner is what causes my suggestion. Tell me what transmission type you have, and also whether you have all-wheel drive, when you write back.
Roland

Hi Roland,
One the #18 pin in the upper left hand plug of the JB there are two wires that are brown with blue. No white wire. Am I looking in the wrong place. The brown/blue wire do ground. Thank you. Curt

ANSWER: Sorry I meant to say the upper right plug.

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

QUESTION: Hi Roland,
Coming out of the #18 pin are two wires in the upper right hand plug in the JB. A white one and a white/red. Does the white go anywhere else. Somewhere there is a short. I disconnected the transmission range sensor.  Where does the white/red go to? Would have having a subscription to alldata would be good. I have never used them.

Answer
Hi Curt,
I don't know how good Alldata diagrams are so can't make a recommendation. I am using the Chrysler service manual as my reference.
The white wire (2) come from the fuse #12 and go out of several pins of junction box, including 18. But if the plug is pulled out, then the ones on pin 18 of the upper right plug go to the trans range sensor pin 1, and the anti-lock brake controller pin 23. Does the pin show a short to ground with the plugs at the other end removed, with the range sensso attached, with the antilock break controller attached?
The red/white wire is not supposed to be on 18, is supposed to be attached to pin 32 of the same plug and it comes from the AC control panel and it supposed to turn on the rear window defogger relay when it is grounded. That relay control is powered by fuse #12 by the way, but the wire shouldn't be on pin 18 according to the wiring diagrams. You might try disconnecting the plug at the back of the AC control to see if that corrects the short to ground.
I don't understand why the red/white is there on 18.
Roland