Help please Dodge Caravan

Mar 23, 2007 5 Replies
B

OK.



I have a 500 mile old Dodge Caravan SXT with dropped floor conversion and lift for a wheelchair etc.



Now I live in the UK so it had to have a rear fog lamp to cvomply with the rules.



This is connected somewhere under the dash, and it was a crappy cheap switch so I decided to fit a better neater one. Trouble is that I connected the wires wrongly and when I switched it on the engine which was idling, stopped. Also its now stuck in park, cannot be cranked and half the dash display temp, fuel etc does not work.



So I though fuse as you do.. Under the bonnet and all fuses checked! No blown ones...



Everything, blowers, radio, door/other lights on instruments like oil and water work as do lights doors, locking, etc.



Any ideas people? I cant get it to a dealer, it cant be the ignition switch because when turned to on stuff still happens! Just not the important stuff. Help!


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W

I'd start by disconnecting the switch you just connected.

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B

Well obviously I did that.

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A

There could be more fuses scattered around. Did you check the manual for underdash fuses?

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B

I strongly suggest two things: (1) Get accurate schematics specific to that vehicle (if you don't have an FSM, pay $25 for a year's subscription at

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- schematics there are complete and right out of the FSM. (2) Use a multimeter along with the schematics to find out where the problem is.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

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R

Yeah. They have one small fuse block behind the lower dash panel below & to the left of the steering column (at least, on a left-hand drive) and a much larger one (called a "power distribution center") under the hood near the battery. If all the fuses check out, look in a schematic to see if there's a "fusible link" (a sort of master fuse that disconnects the entire system) anywhere...

[I make it a matter of faith to never buy a vehicle -- especially a new one -- without ponying up for a factory shop manual. You'd be amazed by what you'll read that the mechanics don't know...]
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