• 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan
• 167 K miles
• Was running fine until recently. Smooth idle @ ~750 rpm, normal gas mileage and power for a 12 year old minivan

The problem:
• Engine initially idles at ~750 rpm for first ~5 minutes, then idles at ~1,250 rpm after ~5 minutes. Does this with the engine cold and warmed up.
• Red lightning bolt appeared (throttle body error)
• Traction Control light on
• CEL on with error codes P0562 (System Voltage Low) and P0507 (Idle Control System RPM Higher than Expected)

Unsuccessful repair attempts thus far:
#1) Reset the Throttle Body
• Clear the error codes
• Ignition in the on position and engine off
• Wait for the CEL to stop blinking
• Depressed the gas pedal to the floor
• Slowly release the gas pedal
• Turn off engine
Result: The red lightning bolt returned on 1st day of driving

#2) Installed new Throttle Body
• Clear the error codes
• Reset the throttle body (repeated #1)
• Start engine. For ~5 minutes it idled smoothly at ~750 rpm. After ~5 minutes, idle speed increased to ~1,250 rpm
• Shut off engine, repeat the above steps, and the engine again idles at ~750 rpm for ~5 minutes, then the speed increases to ~1,250 rpm
• No CEL, no error codes and no red lightning bolt, but perhaps these would reappear if we idled the engine or drove it around for a day
Conclusion: The old throttle body wasn’t the problem & new throttle body isn’t the solution

#3) Connected another good battery to the Caravan’s battery (just to confirm the problem is not the 3 year old Caravan battery)
• Repeated the steps in #2
• Same result as #2
Conclusion: The old battery isn’t the problem & new battery isn’t the solution

#4) Installed new Alternator
• Repeated the steps in #2, this time monitoring the battery voltage.
• Same result as #2. The battery voltage was steady at 14.1 volts at ~750 rpm and ~1,250 rpm
• Error code P0562 reappeared (System Voltage Low).
Conclusion: The old alternator isn’t the problem & new alternator isn’t the solution

#5) Checked PCM voltages and grounds
• Unplugged black connector C1 from the PCM and confirmed good grounds on pins 9, 18 & 19 (black wires), and full battery voltage on pins 10 & 29 (red wires)
• With green connector C4 plugged into the PCM, backpinned and confirmed full battery voltage on pins 19, 28 & 38 (yellow orange wires) when key in the ON position and engine off.

Suggestions what to check next?

 

2010 caravan and I have the System Voltage Low error. Some times my van starts and some times it doesn’t. Alternator seems to be working. One thing I just read, is that it may be a fuse. I know I heard a buzzing from the fuse box but didn’t have time to investigate it. Some models have a battery check fuse. I may just pull them all and replace them.

Another problem could be bad battery cables. I’ve had two people tell me they had breaks inside the cables and had to replace them.