1998 Grand Caravan. The warning chime goes on for about 5 minutes everytime the car is started. The dealership says it is a bad BCM and will cost about $825 to repair (that, after $130 diagnostic!). Any ideas how to repair this at a lower cost? It's a great car, but $1000 to stop a chime from ringing seems ridiculous.
Thanks!
Rick99
09-02-2007, 11:42 AM
Follow the chime sound to it's source and disable it. I don't know where it's located in your car-- maybe part of the BCM, but no reason you can't open that up and take the chime out of it.
bobk5277
09-02-2007, 06:25 PM
Rick--
The Dealership said the chime is "built in" to the BCM. Of course, I questioned that and tried to chase the sound to the BCM myself with the intent to disconnect it, but was unsuccessful in doing so.
donald7150
09-02-2007, 07:15 PM
the stealership is right, the chime is built into the BCM and only replacing it will solve the issue. but you dont have to spend $1000 on a replacement
you can pick up a used or refurb. BCM for less than half.
XDGT03
09-02-2007, 08:30 PM
Can't the BCM be opened? It isn't welded shut is it? Why not just disable the chime inside the BCM?
donald7150
09-02-2007, 11:53 PM
I have no idea. it is possible i guess but i have never cracked open the case on a caravan BCM before.
The chime on my neon is built into the instrument cluster, and has the same sound as my caravan. it is a small black round thing about 10mm wide with a hole at the top attached to the circuit board on the instrument cluster
Rick99
09-03-2007, 07:58 AM
Rick--
The Dealership said the chime is "built in" to the BCM. Of course, I questioned that and tried to chase the sound to the BCM myself with the intent to disconnect it, but was unsuccessful in doing so.
A dealer will not get creative about solving a problem-- they just like to R&R expensive stuff. If I were you, I'd remove the BCM, take it apart and "disable" the chime. Just like that other thread about fixing the solder joint in the instrument cluster-- the dealer would tell people they need a new cluster for $$$$. Yes, by doing this you take some risk of bricking your BCM, but that puts you in the same place you're in now. It's up to you and it's your risk, but if it were me, I'd try it.
It sure looks like it. That black plastic round thing in the upper left quarter would be the chime. I'd take the circuit board out and carefully melt the solder and remove that thing.
