Ok so my wife van won't start. Good battery, key turns, I hear clicking in the relays, but no crank. I've swapped relayed and replaced the starter/solinoid (took a gamble and lost).

So when I turn the key I get six bells/chimes. I know this is a code but have no way of know what that means. Can anyone help?

Here are my specs.
2003 grand caravan
3.3 L non-flex
111,000

Right now I think it is a bad PCM. But I would like to figure out what the bells mean first.

Many thanks in advance.

 

First off, the chimes mean nothing except for you don't have your seatbelt buckled. First thing you want to do is remove the relay and check for power at the 30 and 86 terminals for the starter relay with key on. You should have good ground at the 85 terminal with the key turned to start. Jumping 30 to 87 should make the starter turn over. See what you have and report back

 

Ok will do.

 

Ok, so the electrical stuff was a little out of my league. So I called in a mechanic. they are looking at it now. Apparently there is no ground to the relay.

Also, when they jump it, it will not start. So they can't get it to start they can't get a code.

Any ideas?

 

Well it has been determined that I need a new PCM. I have since heard that there was a recall from dodge for up to 8 years and 80000 miles. But since we bought it on a private sale used we never got the notice.

So now I need to find a new PCM.

Question though. The dealership told me that if I bought another PCM I would need to bring the van in with it installed to flash it. I know it needs flashed but I seriously question whether they need the van to do that.

thoughts?

 

It's not a Dodge recall. It's a federal government (EPA) extended emissions warranty on PCMs. It is 8 years or 80K miles. Same for cat converters.

If you order a PCM from any on-line ECM repair company or your local auto parts store they will ask you for your VIN#. They will reprogram it using the VIN# info and mail it to you ready to install. You don't need the dealership.

 

Unless you have skim, then you will need to bring it to the dealer and have it programmed.

 

Hmm. I read it all the time.

 

?????? Guess I don't understand that comment

 

"?????? Guess I don't understand that comment" Yup, wasn't too clear was it.

"I read it all the time" meaning I read about people doing what is stated in the above quote all the time on this and several other forums. It comes pre programmed. Just have to install it. Dealership programming not required because it's already programmed to the VIN# by the seller.