Expert: Roland Finston - 8/31/2011

Question
I have a 2001 Chrysler Town & Country that has recently had a pulled engine replacement, a new fuel pump and a rebuilt transmission.  My problem is that since these repairs have been done (all in one fell swoop) the a/c, wipers, radio and windows will start and stop working at quick AND slow intervals every time I drive the van.  I hear a clicking sound and the dash lights up...ten second to two minutes later more clicking and everything works fine...  Seconds later it does it again.  Over and over.  The alarm system was disabled 5 years ago because it was malfunctioning (my husband clipped the wires) but now the horn doesn't work either.  Could the issue be the alarm?  When the engine was replace the old sensors were reused if that makes a difference.  I was told that the ECM had to relearn everything.  But it doesn't seem to be "learning" the wipers, radio, etc.  HELP!

Answer
Hi Tina,
I would check out the 'Accessory Relay' located in the power box in the engine compartment on the driver side inner fender. It is the second from the front on the lower side of the box. Try switching it out with another relay with the same part number, and which relay is not crucial to the operation of the vehicle so as to see if the problem areas correct but then problems occur with the systems that were operated by the 'borrowed' relay. If that happens, then replace the weak relay. That relay is responsible for the windows/wipers/radio operating voltage source. But I don't see a direct relationship to the overall A/C system #though you didn't tell me exactly what aspect of the A/C is flaky#.
If that doesn't work then I would try spraying some electrical contact cleaner inside the ignition switch as an oxidized or dirty contact inside the switch may be causing a fault 'signal' from the switch to the body control module that is giving the wrong information about the position that the key is located in the switch.
Roland
Sorry for the delay but I just found your question in the 'pool' to which it had been referred by Kevin.