Hi all, I have an 08 Dodge Grand Caravan I picked up about a year ago. Lately it has been having some weird issues. At least once or twice a day. I will get in the van and my windshield wipers will come on automatically. At the same time, my instrument cluster gauges will stop working and all of the warning lights will come on on the dashboard. The car will stay running though. I have hadit at the local dealer and they are puzzled. Anyone have any ideas as to the possible cause. I work at a Honda dealer and have a few Dodge friends who stated it could be the Integrated Power Module. Any responses would be appreciated.

 

Zero experience on 5th generation vans other than cruising forums. Could be the IPM. Earlier 4th gen vans had issues with it's internal circuit board and external connections getting corroded causing all sorts of electrical havoc.

As I understand it your van has the Electromechanical Instrument Cluster or EMIC and the Cabin Compartment Node or CCN. The CCN is in the EMIC and replaced the Body Control Module or BCM used in earlier models. The CCN controls nearly all the elctronic functions in the van. You'll need to confirm that info and add the EMIC/CCN to your list.

Besides components, wiring and connections are often the source of these headaches. Look for corrosion, damaged/misaligned contacts, etc. Battery voltages are critical to make all these microprocessors work smoothly. Verify the battery is up to speed via a load test and make sure the connections are clean and tight. I've read of folks having problems with the battery feed connection on the IPM. Make sure it is clean and tight.

EDIT - changed to correct term

 

Good chance your having Bus communication issues. Wipers and lights come on as a default when communication isn't possible.

CCN = Cabin Compartment Node

 

I'm learning all the time. Thanks for the correction. While we're talking about acronyms, do you have a list of them that includes 5th gen subjects? Maybe the powers that be can post it in the "Sticky" section for all to see.

 

Hi , I hope I'm wrong !! My friend ran into your situtation 2 years ago . He bought a 2 seater 2006 Chysler hot rod that was a flood car it did all the things you are telling . It stayed in the shop ! He traded it for a new car an solved all his problems . Good luck on your choices . Lovvorn

 

I don't see how this reply helps the OP?

The 5th gen vans are starting to show electrical gremlin issues. A neighbor had a similar problem that turned out to be a mouse chewed thru the bus wires.

 

Meaning the problem was solved by trading the crossfire in for another car. The car that the owner had was in a flood,causing wiring problems. The van has gone into a part bus commuictaion failure. You should have some stored codes. If you don't, have the dealer contract star online to find the problem.

 

I have 2011 Grand Caravan with 1600 miles on it and this exact same thing happened to me today. Started the van and wipers went on even though they were switched off and could not be stopped. Nothing electrical would work (doors and liftgate) radio was on though. No display on dash in the vehicle information center except for a blinking red light at the bottom center of the display. Shut van off three times in a row and still did the same thing. Got to the point where I was just going to have to drive it home and after driving it about 100 feet the display came back on and it acted as though the vehicle had just been started by displaying all of the idiot lights and then they went off and the wipers stopped going and it acted normally.
What was the resolution for the 2008 van? This is bizarre and it concerns me. My wife drives our two young kids around in this van and I do not want them getting stranded somewhere because of some whacked out electrical issue.

 

the caravan mite be the most sold ( because its cheap) vans but have disposible motors and tranny's some of the worst made . i have never come across a vehicle that has so many oil leaks, bad heads,electrical issues,tranny problems or heater core problems the intrepid being the worst ! after all these years you would have thought Chrysler would have fixed most of these issues ,but they haven't due to its great revenue that is made off of this

 

I have just recently purchased an 08 dodge Grand Caravan SXT. We bought it two days ago, private deal, drove it home 200 miles and it sat for a day till this a.m. My wife went it to go down the street with it and it has the same issues as everyone is stating here. Wipers are on and headlights but nothing else works, I can lock and unlock the doors but no instrument cluster, stereo, signals and various other things. Does anyone know if this problem has been diagnosed yet? Thanks