Ok the wifes 05 Chrysler T&C is having some issues and I am not sure where to start. 2 problems- #1 the heater/defroster will blow hot and then all of a sudden start blowing cold, then back to hot. Any ideas??
#2-Door locks quit working, if I disconnect the battery and reconnect they work for a day or up to a week. Any ideas? thanks, the wife is driving me crazy and taking it to the dealer is not in the budget any time soon!

 

I believe there is a bulletin regarding the door lock problem, involving reprogramming one of the modules. Pretty simple and cheap repair.

Not sure about the heater issue.

 

Heater problem kinda sounds like maybe the linkage to the door in the airbox maybe came off, letting the door flop around between warm/cold.

 

Does it have Airconditioning or climate controls. Sounds like a blend door issue, could be a vaccume leak causing the door to return to the home position and then build up pressure again.

 

It does have A/C, as far as a bulletin on the locks where do I find that? thanks for the information.

 

How is your coolant level? If you are low on coolant it will produce those side effects.

 

Coolant level is fine, changed the thermostat & anti-freeze in October, van has @100,000 miles on it.

 

Since it has AC I am leaning toward a bad control switch or a vac leak.

 

www.allpar.com should be a good resource for you.

dodgetrucks.org may be another one, although they are mostly focus on the truck platform.

HTH

Tony

 

The T&C HVAC system is all servo, no vacuum stuff to work with IIRC. To me it sounds like the IR sensor for the cabin temp is messed up and doesn't know what to do to maintain cab temp. In my 02 T&C its located between the vents in the middle of the dash. Small camera type window. Clean it up with some windex and see if that helps at all.

 

If it is Air conditioning and not Climate controls then there is no IR sensor. IIRC the "Tri zone climate control" was standard on the LX and above, and optional on the lesser modles. Is the base hvac controls all servo now as well?

 

I thought I had the base model T&C and that Climate control was standard. Not sure on the more basic A/C systems being Vac or not.

 

Thanks for all the info, I'll let you if I can get it fixed tonight.

 

Ok got the locks fixed, can't find the IR sensor(not enough light) so I cleaned the dash and windshield and coolant level, added maybe 4 cups. Checked for codes and has a P 406 and check engine light is on??

 

Hmmm.

This may not apply to you, but my Dad had a '98 Dodge Grand Caravan he purchased new in Florida. About 5 years later, he had some goofy electrical gremlins start cropping up - more like lights flickering, A/C not turning on, bells & chimes going off. Dealer knew almost immediatly what it was...rain kept dripping in between the windshield & hood (right around the hood hinge point) and dripped onto part of the wiring harness. Over time, with enough wetting & drying & thermocycling, plus some vibration to the harness, some wires in that location started to corrode. Guess it was faily common on those years, especially when a car sat outside all the time in a rainy climate.

The solution was a new harness. Which is expensive and (very) complicated to install. I beleive he wound up paying about $1200 in labor alone to replace the harness. Hope this isn't what's wrong with yours.