Had a leaky heater core so I had the pleasure of ripping the dash out of my 2000 Durango. I removed the front seats for more room and to clean underneath. Replacement and assembly of the dash went fine. I refilled fluids and started the car. So far OK. I turned the heater on to check for core leaks and turned the blower switch to high. No blower! I know for sure that I reconnected all electrical plugs. I popped the glove box down, and sure enough, the blower is plugged in. Went to shut off the car and it won't shut off! Key off, car still running! Turned key to intermediate position and the car shuts off. But only this time. Next time I try to start the car it wont start! Just cranks away. I disconnect the negative battery cable and reconnect it. Now the "Brakes" light is flickering faintly in the instrument cluster even with the ignition switch off. I figure I've really screwed up something, so I reinstall the drivers seat and Bam! The car starts and runs normally. Instrument cluster normal. Ignition switch functions OK. Weird. However, now a bunch of stuff doesn't work. Blower fan (still), A/C, cig lighter, power outlet, interior lights, door locks. Also, the backlight in the heat/AC control panel is on all the time unless I turn the headlight switch on. Then it shuts off and all the other instrument backlighting comes on normally. What the? Is it possible to connect the plug to the blower resistor incorrectly? And would something like that cause the problems I am describing? I find it hard to believe that I connected something wrong since I've R/R the dash before with no problems, and all connectors have a unique shape to mate only with each other. I am baffeled and need some Mopar wisdom. Would a bad CTM cause these problems?
I had the negative battery terminal disconnected during the entire repair.

Thanks all, Curt

 

If the connectors are solid, then let's approach the obvious... You had the dash down/out and now you have pinched or shorted a wire. Simply diagnosis, not so simple to find it. Good luck.

Editors Note: Use SPACES in your post. WAY to difficult to read and follow. Need help? You need to meet us half way.

IndyD

 

Yea please brake up the paragraphs and paint a good picture for us concitering we are not there looking at it, however I think you did a good job in that department.


Sounds like a bad ground. Check all your grounding lugs.

 

Okay. Sorry for the previous long continuous post. I'll try again.

Heater core was leaking (again!) so I pulled the dash (again!) and replaced said heater core.

I replaced dashboard and started the car. Car fires right up. No leaks!

Tried to turn on the heater blower. Wouldn't turn on. Motor was replaced with last heater core and I have since tested it by hooking up 12v to the connector. It blows fine when fed 12v directly.

I notice other things are now not working. A/C wont work. Door locks won't work. Interior lights don't work. Cig lighter and power plug are inop.

I figured I forgot to plug something in so I turn off the ignition key and the car WON'T shut off! Motor just keeps running. What the? I turn the key back to run and the motor keeps running (as it should). Turn the key to OFF again motor keeps running (as it shouldn't). Finally I slowly turn the key from OFF to START and about halfway between RUN and START the motor shuts off. Bizarre!

I now notice the "Brakes" light in the instrument cluster flickering faintly whenever I turn the on the key. I figure I'll try and start the thing again and see what happens, but now the car won't start! The motor acts like it going to start with a very short rev and immediately dies. I try to start it several more times and it won't start, it just cranks.

I figure I've really screwed up something, so I replace the drivers seat that I removed (It gives me more room to work removed).

After the seat is installed I try to start the car again. I Turn the key and everything looks normal in the instrument cluster (pre-start lights) and the "Brakes" light is no longer faintly flickering. Car starts right up and runs normally. Turn the key to OFF and the car shuts down. Several more starts and shut downs with no problems. Beats me.

The one constant are the systems that don't work.
1. Heater blower inop
2. A/C compressor clutch won't engage.
3. Interior lights inop
4. Door Locks inop
5. Cigar lighter and power outlet inop.

Here is what I have done since last post.

1. Pulled the dash away fron the firewall and checked (using schematics and service manual) the Blower motor, blower motor resistor, blower motor relay, and Heat/AC control panel. All pass.

2. Rechecked all connectors and grounds. All are properly connected.

3. Checked fuses in the Power Distribution Center and interior fuse block. All OK.

I'm thinking the CTM may have gone bad but I'm not sure if it could cause all these problems. Whenever I press Lock/Unlock on the key FOBs I can hear the relays clicking, but no locks. Whenever I turn on Interior lights, the back lighting in the heat/ac panel comes on, but nothing else. When I turn on the headlight switch, the panel back light come on but the backlights in the heat/ac panel go off.

I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks, Curt

 

Still sounds like a ground.....IMHO

 

Well Hydrashocker, I can tell you that a ground problem is what I'm dealing with.

After more spark chasing and schematic consulting I found that the large black ground wire at the heat/ac control panel is not only not grounding, but has 12 volts.

More schematic consulting shows this ground passing through............. the CTM. I unplugged the white connector from the CTM and ran my own ground wire to the blower control panel. Presto! The blower motor works fine.

Looks like the CTM is the problem. New one on the way.

 

I HATE wiring nightmares. I hope it fixes the issue.

 

BigWingBoy, did the changing of the CTM fix the electrical problem you had? I have the exact problem as you had. (Power door locks and interior lights not working, A/C blower not working, lights on A/C and heater control panel at all times even when engine is off, but no lights on A/C control panel when park lights/head lights are turned on.) It occurred after taking the dash out to replace the heater core. I'm hoping it is just a loose ground, but since you replaced the CTM I just thought I would ask if it solved your problem.

 

Hydrashocker was right. I rechecked my work five times before removing the dash again. After removing the dash I found a ground on the passenger side that I had missed. The ground was in the dash and didn't need to be removed to get the dash out. 3 days of frustration finally fixed.
If you do end up needing a CTM, let me know. I have a new spare that might might work for you.
Good Luck!

 

I know it has been a few months, but my problem was the same ground wire located on the passenger side. It was easy to get to. I just loosened the five screws on top of the dash, took the side panel and the oh $h!t handle loose. Pulled the dash out on the right side about 4 to 5 inches and there it was. I just missed it when I put the dash back in. Thanks for the reply.