Last week I purchased a 99 Grand Caravan SE AWD 3.8L. The vehicle has an aftermarket alarm system, cd changer, and tv/dvd player.
On two separate occasions, my wife started the vehicles engine, only to find that no accessories would function (i.e. radio, A/C, etc..). When she shut off the vehicle, and then restarted it, everything then worked fine. Has anyone experienced or heard about this or a similar problem? The way it is now is liveable, but I have this nagging feeling that something may be awry somewhere in the electrical system.
Your comments are appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Cybercwby
07-23-2004, 12:50 AM
You may have a relay going on you. I haven't traced the relays completely in mine, but I had a similar problem with relays sticking after changing the battery on my 2000GRCV
Alpo
07-26-2004, 02:59 PM
Yep, My 1997 does the same thing occasionally. My brother in law was the previous owner and he had it in the shop (dealer and elsewhere) several times. The culprit was never found. The good news is the van now has 110,000 miles on it now and even though the problem pops up every now and then, it always goes away when you turn the ignition switch off and back on.
vipergg
07-27-2004, 06:27 PM
Yep, My 1997 does the same thing occasionally. My brother in law was the previous owner and he had it in the shop (dealer and elsewhere) several times. The culprit was never found. The good news is the van now has 110,000 miles on it now and even though the problem pops up every now and then, it always goes away when you turn the ignition switch off and back on.
AAAAHH yes computers , you got to love them . It would be nice if they would just use them to run the engine and quit using them for everything else in the car .
Cybercwby
08-03-2004, 01:09 AM
You know I thought all this time it was the PCM going haywire on me. It could have been, but on a recent trip my 2000 Grand did exactly what I had seen written here. The battery light came on, gauges were all over the place and finally it stalled. Luckily I had a jump battery on me. I got as far as the autoparts store. I first had them test the brand new battery I had pruchased just a few day prior. I then proceeded to remove the alternator for testing. If you haven't done this before, believe me it is not for the timid. To remove this thing you have to pull the entirewindhield wiper assy. out and then guide the alternator out a space that is filled with vacuum and A/C lines (at least on the 3.3). Now I should have known better, but I didn't. After removing the alt for testing the guy in the store tells me he doesn't have the specs or the kit to test. Only if he told me that the first time I asked. Anyway, it worked out. It apears that there was an abundance of what looked like lithium grease around the main connector to the alternator. It was either that or one of the fuseable links is shot. Time will tell. I'll tell you though, when i reconnected the battery, the van fired right up and all had been well for a week now. I have been testing it everyother day to see if the alt is cranking, and it is. Now this could still be from when I reconnected that battery. I don't know if the PCM is particular on which battery lead is placed on first. i never pay attention to that. I know Poss is always supposed to go first and then you are to check the neg lead to ground, just in case, but I never do. Does any of this make sense.
