Hey guys,
Lurked around this forum for a long time and have taken a lot of great information from it. Ultimately i need to get my vehicle to a mechanic but this problem has pestered me for so long i would really like the satisfaction of beating it.
I have a 2002 Durango 4.7. About 3 weeks ago my headlights started flickering and blinking after about 30-40 minutes of driving. Actually what i havve learned is that the headlights, parking lights, dash lights, and dome light are all flickering at the same time. It never happens right away but usually after 30 - 40 minutes after starting driving. Unless it is raining. I am not sure if it is the water or the wipers but it will start much faster when it is raining.
After looking at these forums i see a lot of posts referring to this issue with a lot of different things that could be the cause. I am not very knowledgable with mechanical work but i try whenever i can to learn. I have checked every wire and ground and connection that i can see and so far all looks ok. I have replaced the headlight switch ( Dash) with a brand new one with no success. I replaced my alternator and belt also with no success. I have noticed on a ton of Durango posts that it is commonly the BCM/CTM Module. I have not replaced this yet and i suppose i may have to. However i have no other symptoms realted to that part. Wipers are good speedometer and all dash/warning lights are good, nothing.
Things that are going on that may or may not be related. I am hoping maybe. I do still have a squeak under the hood. the belt is new so i think it is ok. It sounds like it might be the tensioner squeaking. that pulley may be going. Also i have the classic durango problem of the heater resistor plug. Currently is is in a pretty bad state. It is melted severely and i blow resisitors frequently. Could this be causing it?
Sorry for the long post. Any help appreciated. I do need to replace the plug and i am gong to but i was just curious if this could be related mostly.

Thank you,
Jason

 

Car-parts.com

Buy a cheap CTM and give it a whirl. If your problem Is solved then go get your key fobs reprogrammed.

 

Your heater resistors blowing and the melted plug is caused by the blower motor, it is shorted internally causing the resistance of the motor to be wrong. The only fix is to replace the blower motor. I know your thinking "but it runs that can't be it", and you would be wrong as the resistance is everything. You will need to replace that plug if it is pretty melted as you stated as this can be a fire hazard not to mention you wouldn't want to ruin that new $75-$100 blower motor. If you do not replace the blower motor you will keep blowing resistor packs. They sell the new plug kits on rockauto and possibly your local autoparts store.

 

ok, thank you very much. I will definitley replace the blower motor and the plug asap. i dont want a fire and i live in maine so a heater is pretty essential. Could this same problem in any way be related to the blinking lights or is that very unlikely?

 

I doubt the blower motor is the cause of the lights blinking, it's most likely the ctm or maybe a bad relay if you're lucky.

 

ok well thats good to know i guess. where i have the squeaking noise from the belt area let me ask you guys this. Even if the alternator is ok could a slipping belt or pulley cause the alternator not to function properly and cause the lights to blink? it squeaks pretty good at times. I am not trying to get out of the CTM. i just noticed that the squeak and headlights started at roughly same time.

 

It would have to be slipping really bad not to run the alternator enough, and you'd notice the battery would be low.