Electrical Circuit - Blower/Defrost/Air Bag

BRIAN DAVIS4

MEMBER
2001 DODGE NEON
2.0L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
137,000 MILES

The problem started a couple years ago. The circuit (only thing I can assume) that controls the AC/Heat / Rear Defrost / Airbag (or at least the sensor, as the warning light comes on) would randomly not work, some days good, some days not. Could never pin it on anything. Eventually, after months, it just stopped working altogether.

Fast Forward to about 3 months ago. The radiator gives up while driving had the car towed, replaced the whole thing. Magically the error was gone, the AC blew cold air, the defrost worked and the Airbag light was gone.

Now, 3 months later, back to not working again. I'm totally baffled by this, and can't think what would have been done during a radiator repair that would have fixed the electrical circuit.

Thoughts?

2 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,873 POSTS

What's the symptom with the AC system when it stops working? If it is the fan is dead, all these things are related to one section of the ignition switch. The common cause is burned internal contacts along with melted connector terminals. Start by inspecting the connector on the ignition switch. If you need instructions on removing the cover below the steering wheel, I can locate that for you. I can also describe how to do the repair. It will require a new ignition switch, then you can cut the melted part of the connector body away, install two new generic crimp-on terminals, and four inches of new wire. If you just replace the switch, the burned terminals will cause resistance, which translates into heat that will migrate into the new switch and damage it.

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