Bought vehicle in March 2008 it currently has 23100 miles. Already replaced front tires at 19000 (alignment was way off)(this cost $400). Need to have brakes replaced (at 21000 miles).
Have now had four episodes of horn blowing, lights flashing, wipers (front and rear) going and washer fluid coming out when vehicle is not running. A couple of days ago it did this while driving, but the engine did not cut off. The first time happened was when the remote start was used (An XM radio was plugged into the "hot" power source, but the radio was not in the dock). Once it quit doing all of that, the vehicle started normally, but while driving it, it was stuck in second gear. Pulled off the road and tried to change the gears manually....Nothing...Got the vehicle home...Turned it off, restarted it, and drove it...everything normal...It is now at the dealer...the service writer said that he has seen one instance of this, and the resolution to the problem was the battery...They are trying to replicate the problem, but not having any luck so far...They can't replace the battery until the digital device that they are using is showing that the battery is not at the correct voltage...

Can anyone help with this issue?
Thanks in advance...

 

Welcome to DF
Your transmission went into limp-in and should have a stored code.I would guess the rest of the van went system failure, which is the same as a fail safe or limp in back to the dealer mode.

 

Dealer said it didn't store code. They are trying to replicate problem. They are leaning towards battery. They have now had vehicle for 3 days. Have you seen this before? If so what was the resolution? Can you explain what "transmission went into limp-in" means? Thank you

 

limp-in means gets you to the dealer still drivable. No need for tow .

 

Limp in is stuck in second gear. I've never heard of that problem, good luck.

 

also is limp a safety feature so it is less likely to do more damage to the van

 

The dealer has had the van for 3 days now...They can't replicate the problem. They thought that the battery was bad, but it tested OK. They want to keep it for another day or so. I know that it won't do the problems for them - they just happen out of the blue. The service writer claims that there weren't ANY trouble codes when they hooked it up to the box...I told him that there had to be something...

 

Got the vehicle back from the dealer yesterday (Friday). They replaced battery. Wife drove van a couple miles, parked. About 15 minutes later horn started blowing, wipers front and rear going and washer fluid spewing. Lasted about 5 minutes. When van was started an hour later it ran fine. Back to the dealer it goes.

 

I can't even count the number of times that has happened to me. Have someones car for a week, put hundreds of miles on it, never acts up. Customer picks it up and a mile down the road, bang, acts up. Welcome to electrical hell.

 

The next time it does happen, Don't shut the van off.Call the dealer and tell them you are driving it in and Don't shut it off when you get there... Have them hook up the starscan and see what active codes are there.