Gas gauge only works when engine is cool

Tiny
KOHLLINK
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 125,000 MILES
1999 dodge grand caravan power locks and gas gauge only work when the engine is cool. When the van runs for a few minutes the gas gauge dives to empty and the door locks stop working. Must be a bad ground, bad bcm? Please help me its the wife's car.
Saturday, October 8th, 2011 AT 8:53 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Did this happen at the same time or has one failed, then the other?

The fuel gauge could be a bad connection at the sender or dash unit. The locks could be a failed module or grounding issue.

Roy
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Saturday, October 8th, 2011 AT 9:00 PM
Tiny
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They fail at the same time
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+2
Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
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I just hit the power lock switch and the dome lights came on. The locks make a little noise like they are not getting enough power.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 12:30 PM
Tiny
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Strange things are happening. I pulled the 40 amp fuse to the door locks and the ac compressor engaged. Both radiator fans are not working now.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 12:54 PM
Tiny
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The 40 amp fuse is for the fans.
Door locks have a 15 amp fuse
you have some sort of wierdness going on with control systems. Diaged it here is impossible without seeing and touching it. You need a good electrical shop that can track down these types of problems.
One problem area is under the battery. The harness melts from battery acid fumes and cuses opens and shorts. Thats the only lead I can give you at this time.

Roy
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 2:22 PM
Tiny
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I wiggled a couple of wire harnesses and everything came back. I just don't know what I did.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 3:38 PM
Tiny
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I would look at the bottom of the barrey tray for the harness issue. It is very time consuming and a lot of patience is needed.

Roy
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 4:49 PM
Tiny
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When it starts acting up I'll check the harness under the battery. Thank You very much
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 9:04 PM
Tiny
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Good luck
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 9:05 PM
Tiny
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This problem with the door locks and gas gauge happens alot on other dodge cars. Is there any way I can hook up a fused 12 volt wire to by pass the power lead to the power locks?
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Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 AT 3:33 PM

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