Hi All

I am new to the forum and wished I signed up earlier. I need help. To give you an idea of my basic skills. I can change the oil in my engine, changed a battery, boost a car and change the tires from winters to summers. other than that, i am a ****.

I bought a 2008 dodge caravan a few years back and it has been running relatively smoothly. Normal maintenance etc. Changed the rotors and pads

So, today, I come back from vacation, my dad picks me up in our van at the airport (drives normally), once parked and engine off, he gets asked to move the van and apparently the battery died! (i never saw it, he only told me) Yikes, So, i went to start the van and it started, however, i noticed the following items

1. The clock reseted, but my favourites radio stations stayed
2. Each gear symbol had a box around it and beside "D" was the number 8 with a box beside it. Boxes and 8 eventually went away
3. However, my concern now is engine light is on (wasnt on before) and the TPMS is on (but wasnt on before too) and is staying on.

Before i take it to a dealer, which i really dont want to. What should i know about the engine light being on all of a sudden?

BTW - i drove from the airport to home with the engine light on including turning the engine on and off a few times.

PTMD

thank you in advance

 

Before you blow your money at the dealer try a few things first.

The check engine light indicates the PCM (engine computer) detected a fault and stored a code relative to the fault. That code can be read without a scanner in your driveway. Cycle the key from off to on (not start) 3 times leaving it at on at the final cycle. Your codes will be displayed in the odometer indication. Come back here at let us know what the code is.

Sometimes the "key dance" doesn't work for some. Head to your local AutoZone or similar parts store. They will connect a scanner and read the code for free.

Another option is to just clear the code by disconnecting the negative battery cable for 1 minute. This will often fix a one off glitch. Best to know what the code was before doing this. A scanner will also reset the code.

This code along with your erratic indications may have been set by a weak battery or poor battery connection. Have it load tested free at most parts stores.

 

thanx for the reply, i will try that.

i got a call from my wife today. She told me that the engine light was still on, however, once she filled up gas (tank was empty). the light went away.

But between then and now, the engine was turned off and on at least 4 times.

PTMD

i will try to get the code today using the technique shared.

 

the key dance didnt work. but the engine light is no longer there.

 

Hi,
The check engine light is also known as malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). It shows when having a glitch in the electronic control module of vehicles. Commonly, the check engine light is positioned within the instrument console. In some older vehicles, the check engine light was referred to as "engine" or "trouble", which demonstrated small problems including overheating or flat oil pressure inside the motor. The check engine light is usually of golden or reddish color, and there are two types of it:

More info here :
http://checkenginecode.com/flashing_check_engine.html

 

It happened again...

this time to my wife. She went to the van. put the key in the ignition. and the van didnt start. tried a few times, finally some lights worked and the TPMS and MIL came on and stayed on. Also, one tiny small click

so far, it doesnt start. it just beeps and lights come on. gas indicator goes to its level.

please help

 

Tough to do much besides inspect connections or try wire bundle wiggle checks without a check engine light and a code. May be time to have someone take a look. I have a hunch, unfortunately only a hunch, this is either a TIPM (fuse box) problem or a WIN (ignition switch) problem only because of the histories of these two modules causing similar issues on this and other forums.

 

So, here is another update... called Auto Club, and ask for a boost. The van started with boost. ran it for about 15 minutes, turned it off, and around 7:30 ran it for another 12 minutes (with car starter)

Now
- ESP/BAS light came on, staying on
- TPMS light came on, staying on
- Traction Control (car with "S" for wheels).

I push the traction button, the light went away. But the other two stay on.

Is it safe to drive? i am reading about the brakes turn on intermittently. My wife drives it, with the kids in the back.

I tried the key dance again and nothing.

 

So... Update round 2... i am getting a bit annoyed.... :S

I went for a drive and all the lights went away. I did notice that the clock reset, probably at the time when the car started from the boost.

The TPMS light is still on, but i probably need to increase my air pressure (fall here now).

I wonder if i have a faulty battery. Its still the original. I am annoyed, because in a span of a week, random lights come up and disappear and car battery dead unexpectedly twice in 2 weeks. First time, didnt need a boost, second time, needed a boost

i wonder if its time to have a chat with dealer, dont really want to, because they will simply ask to come in for a diagnostic ($$$)

PTMD

 

I would start by replacing the battery and see if the lights come on. And cycling the key for the MIL light doesn't work all the time with a CAN buss system. If you are good friends with a dodge tech with a scanner,maybe they can look at the vehicle.