I was at a campground with a friend - we both own a 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan. We noticed that the battery of both cars die within a day if we leave the doors open (sliding doors and rear door). We tested both batteries - they are fine. It is a leak in the system / bug in the design. Any suggestions for a solution, other than keeping the doors shut or pulling the fuses?
Thanks,
Mark
Could that be because the interior lights in the vans remain on with the doors open?
My experience with a 2002 T&C van is that it manages the lights very well; it will turn off the reading lights or headlights if they are left on accidentally. I have taken it camping and left the doors open for quite a while, though not the whole day, without any problems. (I did have the lights turned off manually) I will be interested to hear any results.
On mine, the body controller turns the interior lights off if no door movement is detected after ~10-15 minutes. My 95 did this too. I've got the base trim level in the '03 GC, so I would imagine the OP's got at least that level of body management, but I could be wrong.
I wonder if he's got the power sliders/rear hatch opener.
--Geoff
Yeah, I've got the power doors plus the rear hatch opener - and so does the friend. So it must be something in that area. I did not use the electric doors at all, just kept them open... All thoughts are appreciated!
M
My Neon shuts off the dome light after 15 minutes of inactivity. Hopefully a Grand Caravan would as well. I've used the dome light for several hours in several cars while camping and not had a problem. I guess it depends if the OP is forcing the dome light to stay on for hours on end or not.
I'm wondering if the OP is using any other electrical accessories as well. Radio, something plugged into the cig lighter, headlights, parking lights etc.
Do those things draw power once the door is opened?
Our conclusion is that the sliding doors and/or the power hatch draw power when opened - and drain the battery to the extent that starting the engine is no longer possible after 5 hours or so.
Errr... would someone with a similar minivan mind trying to duplicate this over the weekend ;-) ???
even thought the bcm shuts off the lites the doors have modules in them and they are waiting for a command from the switches inside the latches.and will remaain that way intill the system is put to rest by closing the doors hence the battery draw. removing the iod fuse may stop that draw
Scott Ehardt wrote:
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