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Tail Lights, Parking Lights and Insturment Lights Do Not Illuminate

Tiny
GENE1939
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 3.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 93,000 MILES
I have a Haynes Repair Manual for the 1996 thru 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan with all the schematics in it.
I have worked through all the schematics. I have been lead to look for the Park Light Relay and related fuses to solve this problem. The Haynes manual schematic says it should be power distribution center, but it isn't there. On your Web Page I found a 2010 Year answer listing referring to a diagram for the junction box and descriptions. That diagram shows four active relays J, K, L, M across the bottom of the junction box, with relay J to be the Park Light Relay. It also shows a total of 17 fuses. BUT, my junction box is different showing only three relays across the bottom and one fewer fuses. I removed all three relays and checked them with a DMM. The test data shows them all the same and OK. I pulled all the fuses that appear to be related to the issue: visually and low Ohms measurements show all to be good. I have attached a photo of the Junction Box if that will help. This 1996 Grand Caravan was one of the first off the assembly line. It was delivered to me new in September 1995. Any help that you can give this retired electronics engineer would be be much appreciated.
Thanks, Gene
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 11:51 AM

11 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Your power dist center shold be by the battery underhood. Check fuses 6-15-16 there and 4&5 in side vehicle but have a pro scan it as it can be your body module and or drl module that is bad as those run most of the lights.
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 12:03 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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Relooking at this issue as I didn't uflly read your question I looked under 95 and these fuse in pic are what you should check for some of the lights. However still have it scanned as it may be the body module see pic for 95 setup of fuses.
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 12:08 PM
Tiny
GENE1939
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
In response to your first answer, I have no idea as to the numbers of the fuses in the Power Distribution Center (PDC) you referred to as they are not numbered on the inside cover of that assembly. SO to make sure, I pulled EVERY ONE of the fuses in the PDC and they were all intact.

As for fuses 4 and 5 inside, did you not read in my first message that I tested all of those fuses in the Junction Box. All were OK.

Please read my entire message again and compare my photo to the diagram listed in your 2010 response to someone else's question on Where is the Park Light Relay.

I will respond to you second message separately.
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 1:46 PM
Tiny
GENE1939
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I was unable to view the attachment you provided. In your second response.

I am not clear as to what you were referring to. Again, all the fuses of the Junction Box were tested. The car is a 1996! BUT the Junction Box is different from what you have otherwise published. Please see my photo again. Is there a Park Light Relay in this Junction Box. It is NOT in the PDC.

As for scanning, do you mean obtaining the codes from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). If so, that has been done and the only results were 1-2 and 5-5 indicating all OK.

Is there another scan that would indicate a body module problem?

Do you have a diagram for the 1996 Dodge Caravan Body Module?
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 2:04 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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What photo? Also the fuse that I posted on second rely were from a 95 as you stated that it's an early 96. BTW with these type of fuses it's a lot easier to use a test light in the future instead of trying to grab, pull and bust your fingers trying to get the darn things out. We don't get response form other vehicles only the ones we answer. The pic I'm sending now is from a 96 and yes you need a pro scanner to read any module in the vehicle he autoparts ones only read engine and trans. It clearly states junction block where the fuses and park light relay is. Which I think you have already checked. Hopefully my pic will come through this time lol. If not I can mail to your email
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 3:10 PM
Tiny
GENE1939
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I posted a photo with my original question. Maybe you overlooked it or it didn't come through. It is a photo of the junction block in my car which is different than the one I found on your web page for the 1996 Dodge. I HAVE ATTACHED THEM HERE WITH THIS MESSAGE. So your schematic shows the relay but where is it physically in the Junction Box, the relays there are not labeled. If it is one of the small ones at the bottom, then the problem lies elsewhere.

Thanks!
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 3:43 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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On your second pic the one that the arrow points to is the tail light relay the two pics I'm sending are from the 96 one is junction block which J is relay for parking lights and the other one is poerdist center under hood. Chrysler did a piss poor job of marking there boxes as yo need a whole page or moer so they say what they are instead of compacting it. If your truck is the jelly bean style then it's a 96 if it's square then it's a 95
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 3:53 PM
Tiny
GENE1939
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  • 6 POSTS
If you take a good look at the photo I sent you of MY Junction Box, there are only three relays loaded on that first row. There are four in the diagram, therefore it does not describe my junction box as I pointed out from the beginning.

All three of those first row relays have been checked, any way.
I'll check some of the others above.

My Dodge G Caravan is the new one, 1996, Jelly Bean if you say so.

Looks like the documentation for this car does not match the hardware well.
Which gives me a lot of pause if I have it scanned. Will the scanner software know the differences?

I'll let you know what I find.

I wish I could hard wire the circuits easily!
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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The scanner will know the difference as they will punch in the vin number I still think it's the module problem. I think that the pic you sent as well as what I have are two in the same except yours is missing the park light relay which I'm assuming you have owned this for a while an d they worked prior to this. I've run into a couple of instances where our manuals are wrong. This is really screwy i'll tell you. If you wan tyour donation back let me know and i'll see it done
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 AT 4:50 PM
Tiny
GENE1939
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Greetings,

Based on your schematic and diagram, I moved the relay #11 to the blank relay #10 position and all the missing lights came on.

The relay probably had been mislocated some time ago.

Thanks for the help and keep the contribution!
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Friday, September 5th, 2014 AT 1:50 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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A from your pic it looked like it was missing. Least it was fixed cheaply although aggravating.
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Friday, September 5th, 2014 AT 2:56 PM

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