Headlight, interior light flicker plus A/C problem
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Headlight, interior light flicker plus A/C problem
I have a 2001 Durango, 4.7L
Friday night, the headlights and interior lights started to flicker 5 minutes into my drive. The more I drove, the more frequent the flicker and the longer the lights stayed out. Gear shift indicator, odometer and clock remained on. The park lamp relay was clicking and was hot, so I replaced it. The problem still exists.
My neighbor said he would replace the headlight switch this coming Tuesday, since other posts offer that suggestion.
BUT, today when I got in the car, I didn't have my normal ding ding ding when I started the car. I had a half a ding. It started normally. I noticed as I was driving that I didn't have any A/C. The evaporator was replaced last summer due to a leak and the A/C worked last week. I pulled into a gas station to fill up and noticed the gas cap was loose as if it was never on in the first place. Odd considering I always crank it on. I filled up, cranked the cap on, started the truck and had my normal dinging ... A/C came on.
My mother's Town and Country had a loose gas cap a few years ago and had to have the computer reprogrammed. She actually had the check engine light come on. My light never came on.
My questions are ... could the A/C issue and the lack of a startup dinging have anything to do with the loose gas cap since they seem fine now? The light problem still exists. Or am I looking at a more serious problem where the computer is going? I don't have much money to spend on this, which is why I am hesitation taking it to the dealer.
There has also been an issue for the past few years where when you unlock the doors with the remote, the interior light comes on. When you open the doors, the light goes out, even though the 3 position switch is on. The dealer and NAPA could never figure that one out.
I'm at a loss. I don't know if these two problems are related or if they are just a coincidence. Please help.
Friday night, the headlights and interior lights started to flicker 5 minutes into my drive. The more I drove, the more frequent the flicker and the longer the lights stayed out. Gear shift indicator, odometer and clock remained on. The park lamp relay was clicking and was hot, so I replaced it. The problem still exists.
My neighbor said he would replace the headlight switch this coming Tuesday, since other posts offer that suggestion.
BUT, today when I got in the car, I didn't have my normal ding ding ding when I started the car. I had a half a ding. It started normally. I noticed as I was driving that I didn't have any A/C. The evaporator was replaced last summer due to a leak and the A/C worked last week. I pulled into a gas station to fill up and noticed the gas cap was loose as if it was never on in the first place. Odd considering I always crank it on. I filled up, cranked the cap on, started the truck and had my normal dinging ... A/C came on.
My mother's Town and Country had a loose gas cap a few years ago and had to have the computer reprogrammed. She actually had the check engine light come on. My light never came on.
My questions are ... could the A/C issue and the lack of a startup dinging have anything to do with the loose gas cap since they seem fine now? The light problem still exists. Or am I looking at a more serious problem where the computer is going? I don't have much money to spend on this, which is why I am hesitation taking it to the dealer.
There has also been an issue for the past few years where when you unlock the doors with the remote, the interior light comes on. When you open the doors, the light goes out, even though the 3 position switch is on. The dealer and NAPA could never figure that one out.
I'm at a loss. I don't know if these two problems are related or if they are just a coincidence. Please help.
THE ULTI-MOD
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,797
Likes: 36
From: Union NJ
ok a couple of things i notice here,
1) the computer should NEVER have to be reprogrammed because of a loose gas cap, the codes cleared, of course, but NOT reprogrammed.
2) the only common link between the interior lights and the headlights is the CTM, this also controls the ding that you hear when you open the door w/ the key on, since it is a flicker i would assume that you have a bad ground on the CTM, you will have to trace the grounds on it and clean and tighten them to see if it solves the problem, this is also likely related to the interior lights going off when you open the door.
3) the A/C issue is odd, the only thing i can think of is that the loss of vacume was somehow the cause of it.
1) the computer should NEVER have to be reprogrammed because of a loose gas cap, the codes cleared, of course, but NOT reprogrammed.
2) the only common link between the interior lights and the headlights is the CTM, this also controls the ding that you hear when you open the door w/ the key on, since it is a flicker i would assume that you have a bad ground on the CTM, you will have to trace the grounds on it and clean and tighten them to see if it solves the problem, this is also likely related to the interior lights going off when you open the door.
3) the A/C issue is odd, the only thing i can think of is that the loss of vacume was somehow the cause of it.
