2011 Grand Caravan Crew, 3.6L Pentastar, 95K miles

Symptom: When starting, sometimes the engine will just continually crank without firing. This has been happening for probably a year now. Until recently, it only happened very rarely. Now, it's happening almost all the time.

I had this at the dealer yesterday, and they said they wouldn't look at it because another dealer had already replaced the TIPM once under warranty, and that I needed to go back to them. Are the TIPM and the WIN modules integrated somehow? I thought these were separate.

Has anyone else had issues with their WIN module on a 5th Gen?

 

So it turns out that I didn't have the TIPM replaced before, it was the instrument cluster. I'm assuming that the cluster and the WIN are separate items.

If it turns out I need to replace the WIN, how hard is that to get to? Do I have to take the dash face completely off?

 

Hi crxmanpat,

Which dealership turned you away because of the previous repair? Also, are there any trouble codes present?

There is a TSB that could be related to your concern that involves reprogramming the WIN module. I recommend referencing this to the dealership of your choice:

TSB 08-024-11 REV. A

SUBJECT:
Flash: Intermittent No Start Or Intermittent RKE Function

OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves flash reprogramming the Wireless Ignition Node (WIN) with new
software.

MODELS:
**2011 (DD) Ram 3500 Cab Chassis**
**2011 (DJ) Ram 2500 Pickup**
**2011 (DP) Ram 4500 / 5500 Cab Chassis**
2011 (DS) Ram 1500 Pickup
**2011 (DX) Reg Cab Chassis (Mexico)**
2011 (LC) Challenger
2011 (RT) Caravan / Town & Country
2011 (W2) Grand Cherokee (CKD)
2011 (WD) Durango
2011 (WK) Grand Cherokee

NOTE: This bulletin applies to RT vehicles built before April 12, 2011 (MDH 0412XX).

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
The service flash corrects the following conditions:
• Intermittent no start
• Intermittent RKE function

The above conditions may be caused by a software lockup in the module. The lockup
condition may be cleared by removing and reinserting fuse M27.
Flash reprogramming the WIN will correct these conditions.

 

Jack,

Thanks for the TSB (why can I not find this on a normal web search?).

So I just went out and pulled fuse M27, waited a few minutes, then put it back in. No change. But, I am experiencing the exact symptoms noted in this TSB; intermittent no start and RKE function. Also, the CEL is not on, but I have no idea if there are any trouble codes stored.

I can't say that the dealer I went to improperly turned me away as I gave them incorrect information. I told them the other dealer had replaced the TIPM, but that was not the case. They had replaced the instrument cluster. So that was on me.

And I have a question about this note in the TSB:

NOTE: This bulletin applies to RT vehicles built before April 12, 2011 (MDH 0412XX).

What does "RT" refer to? My vehicle was built in 2/11, so I assume it is included?

I have an appointment for Monday at the dealer that replaced my cluster (same place where I bought the van). I will take a copy of the TSB with me.

 

GC is at the dealer today where it was originally purchased, and who has done all of the major electrical repairs under warranty. If it turns out that the WIN needs to be reprogrammed, should I be charged the $90 diagnosis fee by the dealer?

 

Just got a call from the dealer. The re-flash of the WIN apparently worked. They are also not going to charge me a fee for the diagnosis. After I dropped the vehicle off, I called Dodge Care and went through the laundry list of electrical problems we've had with this van (new cluster, new climate control module, WIN was checked out once before, one sliding door locked up). Evidently they spoke with the dealership and said to take care of me.

 

Pat,

I'm happy to hear that both the dealership and my colleagues here in Customer Care took care of you with this!

Regarding your earlier question about what RT stands for, that is the body model code.

 

Well, the re-flash didn't fix it 100%. It did it again today on my wife, but only once. Now I don't know what to do.

 

Pat,

I’m sorry to hear that this did not repair the concern. There are no other TSBs that I could find related to what you are experiencing, so I would recommend bringing it back to the dealership to have them formally diagnose it to see what else could be causing this.

 

So the issues have just gotten worse today. Van is very hard to start, and now while driving down the road it is starting to stutter and hesitate. After doing some more investigation on the web, I'm beginning to think I have the dreaded faulty TIPM syndrome. My conclusion is based on the fact that the following electrical components have failed and/or been replaced, along with other various electrical "gremlins":

Instrument Cluster Module replaced
HVAC Module replaced
Sliding Door lock actuator frozen
The rear HVAC blower motor still turns itself on and off occasionally
I have come out in the morning to find the car unlocked, or one of the power doors open
Intermittent failure of the FOB to unlock the car
And of course now these ignition issues

Car is going back to the dealer tomorrow morning. I will give them all this information and ask them to do a full diagnostic on the TIPM. I see online that there are a lot of complaints about TIPM related issues, and that there's even a class-action lawsuit underway. I don't care about that, I just want my van to operate properly.