1998 Caravan blinking console lights

[caledoniacar]

Bought my daughter a 1998 Caravan Sport with the 3.3 engine. Looks and run great except for the vent recirc and A/C lights and blinking. The seller was notified of the problem and he sent me a procedure to run a calibration/diagnostic test which should shut off the lights. Still have the lights blinking. Is this telling me I have an A/C problem? The A/C doesn't go on but I figure it is because the lights are still blinking. Any ideas?
Thanks for the help.

[Madbradthe2nd]

I dunno the same thing happened to me. There might be discussion already here about it. I just inherited a 98 PGV LE and I am not yet familiar with them. It has been sitting in my garage waiting for some body parts, and the battery died. After a boost, it runs but the battery won't charge, meaning it won't start again without another boost. Once running, I'm sure the PCM has forgotten everything, and The climate lights were flashing, but they stopped after a few minutes of idling. That suggests to me that the PCM may be learning something, and once it's happy the lights stop flashing. I'm just guessing though. Have yours been blinking a long time with no signs of stopping?

[caledoniacar]

Yes, they have been blinking for a few days now. We have driven at least 100 miles now and they are still blinking.

John

[Madbradthe2nd]

I haven't looked in the owner's manual but maybe it has something in there about it. If not the Haynes or Chilton, which I have not yet bought, might have something.

[FWDtransbuilder]

At some point prior to your problem a series of buttons were pushed which caused the activation of the CALIBRATION DIAGNOSTICS AND COOL DOWN TEST"
CALIBRATION/DIAGNOSTICS TEST ENTRY
TO INITIATE TESTS:
Set Blower motor ON HIGH
Set Mode position to Panel
Open all A/C outlets
Set Temperature to Cold (Both slide pots if equipped)
Depress WASH and REAR WIPER button simultaneously for 5 Seconds (Until all LED's light)
RESULTS:
All LED's will turn on for 5 Seconds
Calibration Test is running when REAR WIPER and INTERMITTENT are alternately flashing. Cooldown test is running if A/C and RECIRC are alternately flashing.
Acceptable results is REAR WIPER LED is the only LED flashing. Push Rear Wiper to exit.
After all tests have passed, Calibration Diagnostics and Cooldown can be run separately

The test can be aborted by doing the following:

Depressing Rear Window Defogger, RECIRC and Rear Wiper buttons.
Cycling Ignition OFF and then ON.
Control will automatically abort after 15 minutes from the time Calibration Diagnostics and Cool down was entered.
The HVAC control module will return to normal operation or may indicate unsuccessful Calibration Diagnostics or Cool down test by LED's flashing simultaneously.

[top fuel sxt]

...moving the interior light switch one way and/or the other. Sometimes mine would do that because the switch was between always on and the brightest interior light setting. Worth a try.

[caledoniacar]

Thank you for the recommendations. As soon as my daughter gets home I will try and report my findings.

Thanks again,
John

[Screaming Mimi]

I am guessing you are speaking about the lights for the controls located below the radio. If so this is a problem, I have learned is pretty common. It has to do with the A/C switch.

I was able to find one in a local junk yard and replaced it, hope your solution is as simple.

[caledoniacar]

Well that didn't work. I took the van to a mechanic that lives down the road from me and he said the control head is bad. So, how do I go about getting a control head that works? Do you think a junk /salvage yard will know whether it is good or not? Don't want two that don't work.

Thanks for your help.
John

[Screaming Mimi]

For what it is worth it was $5 at the junk yard and they would let me replace it in 30 days if it was bad....

vs $70+ at the auto parts store with no refund.....

[caledoniacar]

So, where is this control head located and how do I get it out. I will start calling around to the salvage yards and see if I can find one.

I want to THANK all of you for the assistance.

John

[caledoniacar]

Instead of tearing this gem into peices, could someone please tell me where the module is located on the 98 Caravan? I was told to make sure the replacement has the same numbers on it because their are different models of modules. Sounds like this is going to be fun.
Thanks for the help.

John

[StandOnCliff]

The heater controls are part of the control head. It's a complete unit. Remove the trim around the heater controls and that unit is bolted in with a few screws and a plug.

1 CONTROL, Heater
04677614AC 1 D, H, K, P w/Heated Rear Window
04677626AB 1 D, H, K, P w/o Heated Rear Window

2 CONTROL, A/C And Heater
04677615AC 1 D, H, K, P w/Heated Rear Window
04677681AB 1 D, H, K, P w/o Heated Rear Window

3 04882574 1 D, H, K, P KNOB, A/C And Heater Control -Slide

4 KNOB, A/C And Heater Control -Rotary
05011109AA 2 D, H, K, P 2 C, Y

5 04677667AB 1 C, Y CONTROL, A/C And Heater With
Zone, Woodgrain

6 04677627AB 1 D, H, K, P CONTROL, A/C And Heater, with
Zone, Black

7 KNOB, A/C And Heater Control -Slide
04882577 2 D, H, K, P 3 C, Y

8 KNOB, A/C And Heater Control -Rotary
05011109AA 2 D, H, K, P 2 C, Y

9 04677666AB 1 C, Y CONTROL, A/C And Heater With
Zone & Aux, Woodgrain

10 04677617AC 1 D, H, K, P CONTROL, A/C And Heater, With
Zone & Aux, Black

11 SWITCH, Rear Blower
04874515 1 D, H, K, P
1 C, Y

12 KNOB, A/C And Heater Control -Rotary
05011109AA 2 D, H, K, P
2 C, Y

13 KNOB, A/C And Heater Control -Slide
04882577 3 D, H, K, P

CARAVAN, VOYAGER, TOWN AND COUNTRY (NS)
SERIES LINE BODY ENGINE TRANSMISSION
L = Base
H = LX, depor, SE
P = LXI, LE
S = Limited
X = ES
C = Chrysler, AWD
D = Dodge, AWD
P = Plymouth, AWD
K = Dodge, FWD
Y = Chrysler, FWD
H = Plymouth, FWD
52 = 113.3 SWB
53 = 119.3 LWB
EGP = 3.3L V6 CNG Engine
E98 = Electric Motor
EDZ = 2.4L 4 Cyl DOHC 16V
SMPI Engine
EFA = 3.0L V6 SMPI Engine
EGA = 3.3L V6 OHV Engine
EGH = 3.8L V6 OHV Engine
EGM = 3.3L V6 OHV FFV
Engine
DAC = Single Speed Transmission
DGC = 3-Speed Automatic
Transmission
DGL = 4-Speed Automatic
Transmission
DGM = 3-Spd. Automatic 31TH
Transmission
DGO = All Automatic Transmissions

[caledoniacar]

That is the info I was looking for. Owe you one.

Thanks,
John:)

[caledoniacar]

Well, I found it and got a replacement from the junk yard for $40.00. No more blinking lights and now the A/C works. thanks to all for the good info.

John:

[Madbradthe2nd]

Today I put in a new battery. The climate LEDs were flashing again, and this time not going out. I performed the test that FWDtransbuilder posted and it worked!

[vipergg]

Today I put in a new battery. The climate LEDs were flashing again, and this time not going out. I performed the test that FWDtransbuilder posted and it worked!

That will usually happen when you replace the battery and the fan knob was left in the on position before you pulled the battery.

[Madbradthe2nd]

That will usually happen when you replace the battery and the fan knob was left in the on position before you pulled the battery.

Do you have any idea how weird that sounds?