[5th Gen : 08+]: Battery drainage
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Battery drainage
We have a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan, about 9 months ago we started having issues with the battery and needing to be jump started. We replaced the battery in June and that seemed to help for a short time. Then the alternator was replaced in September. We have continued having issues with the battery being drained and having to jump start the car. In January I took the car to a shop they said the alternator was wired wrong and fixed that. A week later we had to take the car back to the shop, at that time they said the new alternator was defective and needed to be replaced again. The next week the car went back to the shop since the battery was still being drained. The mechanics said there was a short in the back tail lights and cigarette lighter which they repaired. They also said the starter solenoid was shorting out and draining the battery and we needed a new starter. We went a head and replaced the starter at that time. The next two days after the starter was replaced the car had to be jump started again for battery drainage issues. We are to the point of frustration with this vehicle. Also over the past summer we had issues with the windows rolling them selves down with the car off and the side doors opening on their own even with no one near the car but that seemed to stop once the alternator was replaced the first time.
Champion
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,053
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From: Mopar HQ
We have a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan, about 9 months ago we started having issues with the battery and needing to be jump started. We replaced the battery in June and that seemed to help for a short time. Then the alternator was replaced in September. We have continued having issues with the battery being drained and having to jump start the car. In January I took the car to a shop they said the alternator was wired wrong and fixed that. A week later we had to take the car back to the shop, at that time they said the new alternator was defective and needed to be replaced again. The next week the car went back to the shop since the battery was still being drained. The mechanics said there was a short in the back tail lights and cigarette lighter which they repaired. They also said the starter solenoid was shorting out and draining the battery and we needed a new starter. We went a head and replaced the starter at that time. The next two days after the starter was replaced the car had to be jump started again for battery drainage issues. We are to the point of frustration with this vehicle. Also over the past summer we had issues with the windows rolling them selves down with the car off and the side doors opening on their own even with no one near the car but that seemed to stop once the alternator was replaced the first time.
We recognize how inconvenient and stressful this has been and do apologize for that. Are you thinking you want to continue working with the dealership? We can certainly get this escalated to a Case Specialist to provide an additional layer of assistance while in service. We're available via direct message if this is of interest.
Jasmine
Dodge Social Care Specialist
Amateur
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Your symptoms are classic of T.I.P.M. failure a.k.a. fuse box under hood. Sounds like your shop is struggling to diagnose. If an excessive draw can not be isolated by pulling fuses then you need to look further up the chain towards battery positive. This is a difficult problem to sort out. Sorry but this is an expensive repair outside of warranty. Chrysler has lots of problems with this part. Speaking from experience with our 2010 Grand Caravan if the part # of the T.I.P.M. is 56046619AA then I would lay money on it being the problem.