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Chrysler Repair/turn signals/hazards abnormal in cold

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Expert: - 1/19/2012


Question
I have a 99 town and country limited with daytime running lights.When its cold out(13 deg. or colder) the flashers will blink once and then stop, turn signals and hazzards once it warms up they are fine.

Answer
Hi Richard,
I would suspect that the drl module is impacted internally in the very cold weather. If you have some sort of an electrical heater you can use to externally warm the module when it is in the failed state, and you find that pre-heating it will circumvent the problem then it would suggest that replacing the module will fix this. You could unplug it from the fuse box under the dash and clean off the pins and sockets with electronic circuit board cleaner from a spray can to also see if that would solve a poor connection between the pins and their socket in the fuse box. So I would be inclined to try to troubleshoot this in the failed situation when you know it is going to not work and remain that way long enough to try both approaches to see which one solves the problem (start with cleaning the contacts which you can do any time, then test the temp sensitivity of the module itself if contact cleaning doesn't fix it) If heating it up fixes it you might try opening up the module if that can be done and spraying some contact cleaner internally or maybe via any external opening to the shell. It probably is not a cheap part so if you can work around it and avoid the cost of a new on that would be good.
Roland

Chrysler Repair

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Roland Finston

Expertise

I specialize in Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth cars, minivans, and SUV's for the model years 1982-2008 based upon my 50-year DIY experience, factory shop manuals and wiring diagrams. I offer fast repair advice to help you minimize repair costs by helping you diagnose and do it yourself. Problems with electronically controlled engines and transmissions as well as body wiring problems are my specialty.

I take questions one at a time between 8am and 10pm CT and attempt to answer within 20 minutes. "Maxed Out" means I am answering another question of otherwise busy, so try again later.

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Experience

Five decades as a 'do-it-yourselfer' on domestic and imported cars

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Yahoo Autos Group called The Chrysler Lebaron Club (co-moderator)

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Degrees in Physics/bruised knuckles.

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"Top expert of 2010" and "2011" at Allexperts. Among top 50 experts for years 2006-2009 at Allexperts.

Quickest "average response time" at Allexperts (currently no. 1).

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