Paging Chrysler Techs and/or Automotive Exorcists

"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired) 08/14/2015 at 00:29 • Filed to: SHITTYVAN, DEMONIC POSSESSION

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Well folks, this is our 2013 Town and Country and I’m thinking of naming it Christine as it appears to have been possessed by evil demons. Just a little over two years old, 34K miles on it, mostly big highway trips.

A couple of days ago, the wife went to start the van and all kinds of weird stuff started happening. Van started, but wipers were stuck on (even though the stalk was in the off position). Vehicle was running, but driver information center stated the vehicle was off, when it was clearly running, and showed a sliding door ajar that was completely closed. Automatic door switches on the console were non-operational. Doors/locks hadn’t worked well from keyfob remote for a couple of weeks before this happened.

Three start attempts and same ridiculous behavior out of the car. Opened the hood and fusebox to pull wiper fuse to drive to the dealer. Wife tried the car when I was opening the fusebox, and it finally started normally without the wipers going, but stated that the blind spot detection system was inoperative. Started vehicle one more time, and everything was normal, including the remotes. Things have seemed to be ok for a couple of days.

Some googling makes this sound like the TIPM (totally integrated powertrain module) is messed up or on its way out. Van is getting pretty close to the end of the bumper to bumper warranty. We wanted to try to get 5 years out of it, but I’m thinking this thing needs to go sooner rather than later if we’re starting to have electrical problems like this. I’m nervous about bringing it to the dealer to get checked out, because all Seattle area Chrysler dealers are pretty sucky for getting repair work done, and I’m not convinced they’re not sleazy enough to ding me on a trade over it (unfortunately the Chrysler/Dodge vans are super cheap and we need the space, so we’re pretty much having to get a newer model). It could conceivably still be a lemon under Washington law, but since it’s the first time it’s gone nuts, I’m thinking that’s not a productive route, since that generally requires several repair attempts.

What would you guys do? Anyone else run into problems like this?

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 00:31

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Sell it. Buy a Sienna. You'll enjoy the ridiculously light steering, the factory cold air intake (no kidding) and a nice V6.

JGrabowMSt > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 00:36

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While I’m not a Chrysler Tech, I’ve had a couple of modern Chryslers and have some advice. This will probably take the better part of your weekend, but it’s worth trying first.

1) Unplug the battery, let sit for about 15 minutes, plug battery back in.

2) Pull the wheels off and check grounding straps. Look for every ground strap on the car, wire brush it, and put it back. Chrysler cars may as well think they’re dying when it’s just a slopping ground connection.

3) Search around and see if there’s a local hole in the wall tuning shop or custom shop. Stop by sometime and see if you can pick their brains or ask them questions. These guys are usually incredibly knowledgeable and in some cases, have seen the issue before.

4) As this happened recently to another Oppo, try checking the connection underneath the fuse box. Make sure the fuse box is not loose or have a loose connection.

5) If all else fails, kill it with fire.

Bytemite > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 00:36

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What I would do is

1st, not buy a Chrysler.

2nd, buy a Sienna.

Problems avoided.

someassemblyrequired > JGrabowMSt 08/14/2015 at 00:39

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Yeah I think a check of the grounds and stuff is in order. It’s still under bumper to bumper so I’ll probably just take it in and then at least it’s documented if it pooches out after 36K.

someassemblyrequired > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 08/14/2015 at 00:42

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Ha yeah I tried to buy one back before we got this, but the local Toyota dealer dicked me around. We bought this as our local Chrysler dealer in CT was awesome to deal with and took care of any problems immediately. Here I have to schedule a service appointment two weeks out or more, and I then have to double check all the work.

someassemblyrequired > Bytemite 08/14/2015 at 00:43

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Yeah, yeah, I’m a sucker. Only problem is similarly equipped Sienna was 38K at the time, this was 26.5K plus tax.

Bytemite > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 00:53

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Holy shit...that’s a big gap. I have a hard time believing that. You must be talking about the AWD fully loaded Sienna?

someassemblyrequired > Bytemite 08/14/2015 at 00:57

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It’s totally loaded save for AWD and heated seats. Equivalent would be XLE Premium now. If we got the Sienna, the same price would have gotten us the base model.

boxrocket > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 01:10

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Two years old and only 34k miles? Drop that thing at the dealer and have them give you a loaner for the warranty work.

Conan > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 01:10

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I had the somewhat older version of this problem and fixed it with 20 minutes and a lot of solder. I don’t know that similar tricks are available for the modern version, but worth scouring forums.

someassemblyrequired > boxrocket 08/14/2015 at 01:15

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Bwahahaha. I know how that conversation would go:

Me: “My van is having some sort of major electrical issue”

Them: “We’re scheduling for early September right now”

Me: “Can I get a loaner then”

Them: “We don’t do loaners. We can get you a car from Enterprise at a special rate or you can get the shuttle home. Also the city bus picks up out front.”

But yeah, that’s probably how this is going to end up going.

someassemblyrequired > Conan 08/14/2015 at 01:17

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Yeah I think since it’s still got a month or so left on the bumper-to-bumper, I’ll have to take it in, even though it’s a major PITA to get the thing serviced.

boxrocket > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 01:20

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Very likely. The GM dealership near where I work has all appointments for non-routine-service booked - mostly for recalls - through March 2016, and the Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep dealership doesn’t have an opening until early October.

Good luck though.

Axial > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 01:21

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Our 2005 Grand Caravan has had similar problems. The issue? Battery was on its way out.

for Michigan > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 01:22

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I would say that it’s the Italian influence, but my parents’ 02 Caravan has had electrical gremlins, too. Maybe blame that one on the Germans?

Hope you get it figured out.

someassemblyrequired > Axial 08/14/2015 at 01:24

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Ah good thing to check. I’ll definitely ask them to check the battery along with the TIPM. Thanks.

someassemblyrequired > for Michigan 08/14/2015 at 01:29

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Yeah it’s got the Alfa electronics. To think we had a Jaguar before we moved and the worst electrical issue on that car was a bad rear park assist speaker and problem with the LED third brake light. Having grown up in a house where we always had at least one British car I would take the easy to troubleshoot 70s Lucas stuff over this crap any day of the week.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 04:17

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Sounds like TIPM issues. Damn things are keyed to the VIN so you can’t just get one from a junkyard, but even if you could you'd probably find that they were experiencing the same problem.

A friend is still experiencing problems with hers (no warranty and tons of miles) and has figured out all sorts of combinations of button presses to make things work like they’re supposed to. Lots of fun in winter trying to close windows (they roll down just fine, albeit sometimes without you asking), and she can’t leave anything valuable inside for fear of the locks doing strange things.

A new Odyssey starts around $29K and has everything I want in a minivan except for alloys. More features just means more to break, although in a Honda I doubt that would be an issue.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 08:13

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Sounds like the TIPM. When I worked at the dealer some years back we replaced a few of those. Kind of a fancy name for the fuse box, but it controls a bunch of stuff.

jkm7680 > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 08:17

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The problem is that it’s a Chrysler.

Thank me later.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 08:20

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Then get an Odysssey.

DipodomysDeserti > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 08:32

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Chrysler dealers suck. My wife drives a used BMW, and anytime I take it in for service they give us a free loaner car. I take my Abarth in for a warranty repair, and they're like fuck you, you can rent a car from the enterprise in the lobby. My local Subaru dealer would give me free loaners as well.

BigBlock440 > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 08:51

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I thought there was a recall for the TIPM

uofime-2 > DipodomysDeserti 08/14/2015 at 09:49

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Subaru said they’d give me a loaner if I needed it while my car got it’s oil changed!

I was amazed, why aren’t more dealers like that?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 09:53

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I know it might suck to hear, but just take it in to the dealer for warranty repair.

If you or another shop try fixing it you may inadvertently cover up any evidence of the root cause. That would end up costing you more money I think, and may result in the issue not being fixed at all.

If you’re that worried about the trade being dinged by a repair, just go trade at a different dealer, or wait a week after the repair to trade it.

someassemblyrequired > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 08/14/2015 at 10:47

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Yeah I think something else is in my very near future.

someassemblyrequired > jkm7680 08/14/2015 at 10:48

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That doesn’t make me feel better coming from a VW fan.

someassemblyrequired > BigBlock440 08/14/2015 at 10:48

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Nope only 2011 Grand Cherokees as far as I can tell.

someassemblyrequired > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/14/2015 at 10:50

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Yeah it has to go to the dealer. It doesn’t get driven much as the wife is travelling for work a lot, so I’ve got some time to dump it after it gets fixed, even though it has 34K.

BigBlock440 > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 10:53

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Well, at least it’s still under warranty.

DipodomysDeserti > uofime-2 08/14/2015 at 12:45

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Yeah, that how my BMW dealer is. I had them replace a windshield and they gave me a loaner.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > someassemblyrequired 08/14/2015 at 20:39

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As long as you get it into a dealer before the end of the warranty period and the failure gets documented, you should be able to take up the warranty claim. If the dealer isn’t interested, find the factory rep for the area and complain to them. If that still fails, contact FCA directly. They are legally required to fulfill their warranties, and not getting the warranty done because you’re scared they won’t do it simply encourages the misbehaviour.

someassemblyrequired > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 08/14/2015 at 21:58

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Yeah I was more wondering if I should be trading it in or starting a lemon claim. I called to schedule an appointment this morning and explained the problem, they said they’d schedule something and call me back this afternoon. I’m still waiting. Probably going too have to call FCA and get the zone rep’s contact info unless they get back to me Monday morning.

Amoore100 > someassemblyrequired 08/28/2015 at 01:59

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That’s eons away from what you get at our local Honda dealership...our ‘05 Odyssey needed a new J35 engine after we accidentally burned out the last one from lack of oil (forgot to add oil between changes and we think the other dealership under-filled it to start with...) Anyways, my dad takes the car in, receives a Civic loaner for a week, gets the swap done, gets our headlights buffed out, gets a free tow after a coolant clamp came loose afterwards, and gets great service for every time after that he comes in...he has reciprocated the favor by bringing in donuts and pizza for the service crew on some occasions, but South Bay Honda has always had great customer service for our family...

Amoore100 > someassemblyrequired 08/28/2015 at 02:01

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Whaddaya mean? Isn’t that how Chryslers are supposed to be? (I kid, but we once had a rental Grand Caravan that was also probably about a year old which would randomly lock and unlock itself and lower the windows..., not as bad as your car, but definitely sketchy, especially since nothing of that sort occurred with our Quest rental this year...)

Amoore100 > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 08/28/2015 at 02:02

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Odys are awesome. Truly the sport sedan of the minivan world. It’s big, that’s for sure, but the steering is tight and nimble and the chassis is relatively taut for such a load hauler...carrying 8 people or a load of lumber was never so much fun...