OT 97 Dodge Caravan Help Question

John B. · Apr 1, 2015

My wife just can't seem to part with our 97 Dodge Caravan. It's now started to have electrical problems. The parking lights start coming on when it's just sitting there with out the keys in the ignition. The lights will come on then go off after a bit and sometimes they stay on until I pull the fuse. Even with the fuse out the buzzer buzzes when you open the door indicating that I left the lights on when I didn't. I'm letting it sit outside from now on. Tonight I left the headlights on purposely and it has a timer and they did go off after about 3-4 minutes like they always have. Any ideas what could cause them to come on by themselves with the headlight switch off?

Thanks for any tips.

John B.

jimg.allentown · Apr 1, 2015

I would suspect the relay that controls the lights. In order to have the lights go off after a time, there has to be a relay in the circuit between the headlight switch and the lights. That is the relay I would most likely suspect. It is probably located in the power distribution box under the hood. I would try switching a couple of the relays to see if it changes the behavior of the lights. Of course, only switch relays with like numbered relays. If you transfer the problem to a different circuit, you found your culprit.

John B. · Apr 1, 2015

I've tried this and it didn't help.

I did google my problem and it seems to be the BCM body control module under the dash on the left side of the brake pedal which also houses many fuses and a few relays. I will have to take a look there.

CKain(MI) · Apr 1, 2015

hmmmm, maybe, like my mini-van there is a 'channel' in the floor along near the door. I had to pull up the floor mat(right side). The channel was full of water, soaking a wire harness, containing at least 20 wires.. a couple were rotted apart. splices were very corroded. I drilled a couple small holes right through the bottom of the 'channel'. after I fixed some wires.

Hobo,NC · Apr 1, 2015

Sounds like a BCM issue.. are battery acid has found its way into the wiring harness under the bat... One thang that I have found common to them is were the ground cable attaches to the head are trans to have a bad connection clean it good... You may try to disconnect the bat and touch the cables together this will drain any capacitors in the system... If all boots up and looks lime a fix plan on a BCM....

MY first caravan I got 300K on it I keep it a year to long electrical issues killed it and I spent to much time and money on them...

My second has 221K it owes me nuttin and its not gonna take much to send it off to the sausage grinder...

Mark-Mi · Apr 1, 2015

John, we must be married to sisters. My wife can't seem to part with her 97 Grand Caravan. Truth be told I like it to.

All my phantom problems like random no starts, windshield wipers not working than would come on out of the blue turned out to be the instrument panel. Dealer put in two used instrument panels. Neither lasted very long. Than I found out that was a major problem. Put new instrument panel in been fine since.

Sprint 6 · Apr 2, 2015

The headlight switch is failure prone on those and causes all sorts of lighting issues. The instrument panel can cause all sorts of issues, but never had one cause lighting issues. BTW, if your instrument panel starts to give problems, do not replace it, there is no need. Take it apart and resolder the pins where the connector plugs in. You have to take it apart and solder from the backside of the board.

KCTractors · Apr 2, 2015

My '97 Grand Caravan has them gremlins too. Nothing works all the time, it seems like the gremlins take turns to what is going to work or not. The headlights do work properly.

OT 97 Dodge Caravan Help Question

John B.

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jimg.allentown

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John B.

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CKain(MI)

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Hobo,NC

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Mark-Mi

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Sprint 6

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KCTractors

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