1999 Dodge B1500 Van Electrical Problems?! help! :)

Ok,

I've checked all the "visable" fuses I could find and all seem to be
good this is the problem.

I got in the van and started it up and now I have:

No Wipers
No Radio
No Overhead Console Lights
No A/C Blower
No Power Windows
No Turn Signals
and my ignition switch is stuck in the "ON" position.

I can start the car up just fine and it drives with no problems.

My headlights, brake lights, exterior lights all work, electric door
locks, dashboard lights, clock all seem to work.

It really looks like I've "BLOWN" something but I can't figure out
where. All the fuses in the fuse block in the dash look good as do all
the ones under the hood. Of course this doesn't mean that the ones that
don't have a "window" to look at look fine. I don't think the ignition
switch is bad because I can still start the car it's just "stuck" I
think as a result of whatever is "blown" but I could be wrong.

Does anyone have any ideas? Anyone have access to a factory service
manual for this year that can look at the wiring diagram and see if
there's something I'm missing?

Also this is a custome conversion van, not sure if that matters in this
case but you never know!

 

If you don't feel you can justify purchasing an FSM, it might be worth
it to you to purchase an AllData on-line subscription for $25 (a year,
$15 renewal after that or for any additional vehicles). That will give
you immediate access to the very schematics that are in the FSM for that
specific vehicle (plus full TSB's and much of the FSM descriptive and
procedural info.). www.alldata.com

HTH

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

 

I had a problem like this with an old Toyota. Two pins in one of the
harness connectors somehow got hot enough to soften the surrounding
material, allowing contact to be lost. It was hard to find. I would
suggest checking all of the harness connectors to ensure that all pins
are making good contact. There may also be a fautly ground.

I agree with Bill in that good wiring diagrams are a must. A FSM or an
Alldata subscription should be able to provide what you need.

-Kirk Matheson

 

all fuses should be tested with a test lite and not just looking at them
and there is more under the hood

 

I have had great success using a good contact cleaner. The best one is
DeoxIT (www.caig.com)
When the metal on connector pins start to oxidize, more current is
required to get through the surface and the surface begins to heat up.
Over time it will finally fail. Deoxit, cleans or deoxidizes the
surface and protects it. Works great on all electrical connections. I
came across it since it is spec'ed out by many automotive and aviation
mfg's.
Works great around the house also; batteries, audio/video, etc.
Mike

 

I tested all the fuses with a meter tonight and all check out just
fine. I tried removing the main harness connector right behind the
stearing wheel but I couldn't get it to come out. Does anyone have the
procedure to do this? the top of it comes loose when I loosen the bolt
in the center but it's like just the top is wanting to give. I'm kinda
paranoid about just pulling on it really hard.

To recap as maybe someone has a clue with further help:

What doesn't work:

Wipers
Turn Signals
Radio
Windows
ABS and Airbag Lights are "ON"
Cig Lighter
A/C Blower
Ignition is stuck in the "ON" position but starts van just fine

What Does work:
Headlights
Running Lights
Reverse Lights
Hazard lights (But turn signals don't)
Electric Locks
Door Buzzer
Check Engine Light is "OFF"
Check Gauges is "OFF"
Clock
Dashboard Lights
Gauges

This problem just happened like "THAT".. I had driven it earlier in the
day with no problems. The engine/trans run just fine and the brakes and
all work, just none of the above. Anyone else have any insight please
feel free !

 

Hi...

Not a mechanic; just an old retired electrical guy. Worse, not
yet at all comfortable with chrysler as I used GM all my life,
so... forewarned is forearmed

Did you check the fuses in the power distribution box in the
engine compartment? Some of them don't look like fuses as I
know them. A little larger than the older blade type fuses,
with rounded tops.

Have you looked at fusible links? Dunno what they look like
in Chryslers yet, hopefully the experts here will tell you, and
maybe even where they are. They should be sort of like large
bulges in series with a wire... I _believe_ you should be
able to find one in close proximity to the alternator, and in
series with one of the alternator wires. Do NOT jumper it with
a piece of wire!!!

Just a thought...

Take care.

Ken

 

Y'know, I'm suspecting your trouble is nothing more or less than a faulty
ignition switch.

 

You know I've thought about that, only thing that keeps me from
thinking that maybe is the case is the fact that I can actually start
the van. Also another thing is when this happened I couldn't actually
use the remote door locks, they didn't work, then I jiggled some wires
around and they started working, but nothing else.

Could a simple iginition switch cause all this other stuff to short
out?

 

....so? The "start" contacts are separate from the numerous other contacts
in the switch.

A faulty ignition switch could easily cause your list of non-working items
to stop working. You don't know that they're "shorted out".