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Chrysler Pacifica: Electrical/Lighting Problems
Bad headlights? Things going a bit haywire? This is the place to work out those electrical/lighting gremlins!
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Hope it's helpful. Good luck!
My 04 Pacifica has just presented it's first problem. The ignition key will not go to lock. After setting for 5 or ten minutes I can hear a noticeable click, sounds like a relay, then the key will turn and I can remove it.
The other thing I'm wondering about is the dash lights. Not frequently but enough to wonder about, the dash lights will dim or go out completely. This only lasts for a minute or less then the lights return to original brightness.
Could it be that these are related? Am I looking at the beginning of a long slippery slope of recurring electrical problems?
Has anyone maybe had this problem and know what was done to fix it? maybe if i'm able to point the dealer in the right direction, it would help.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The next day I went to start it and was sure to check the message center for any "door/liftgate ajar" message and there was none, so I started it and it was dead again. We called the dealer from where we purchased the car (which is in a larger town about 1 1/2 hours away) and they asked when we could get the car down there, thinking the small dealer here couldn't do the proper diagnostic tests. I replied that if I couldn't get the thing to start, how was I supposed to get it down there? :confuse: I don't know if the towing service would go for that when there is a dealer just down the road.
I am a housewife with 2 small kids and am just sick thinking I will get stalled somewhere. Is this a known problem for this model? Can it be fixed and not just "patched up"? The big dealer has a ton of lots in the same business, would they let me pick out a different make of car that I would feel more confident in? Just thinking "out loud" but would appreciate any help or opinions.
Have you called the local dealer again to tell them the battery died once more?
I thought there was an issue posted here a couple of times regarding dead batteries. Hmmmm... I'm not sure where to even begin looking because I believe it was before the problems threads were all broken up like this, so it may or may not be here in the electrical thread.
Ah. Ok. Go to the original problems thread I've linked below and run a search on "battery". You'll find quite a few comments:
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.ef16286?displayRecent
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
My only auto headlight complaint, and a minor one at that, is that I wish it would respond faster when entering a long tunnel.
If you have leather seats ... I don't know.
Jimmy
this is what exactly is stated on the dealers paperwork : "SWITCH DO 8053002" replaced. ALso I was due a tire rotation and they discovered a broken tie rod and that was replaced. And I had no idea it was broken, because I didnt feel anything wrong while driving. ANd as an afterthought of your problems with the electrical seating, I'm wondering if your switch is about to go bad. Hmm. I hope any of this info helps .
PS, my Pac was in the dealers all thru this snowstorm, and luckily I escaped driving in the bad conditions, I really dont want to find out yet how it drives under snow conditions.
Caren
Thanks for the note. At least others have a similar problem. I am just suspicious that AFTER your service and mine a similar issue occurred. Coincidence or induced problem. I did have the vehicle out in the snow (~ 5" and didn't have any issues.
Jimmy
caren
i just can't believe you had a tire system problem since brand new and lived with it all this time. If this is true and accurate, you should have lemon lawed this vehicle LONG AGO! Frankly, you have only yourself to blame. No matter what you want to put on Chrysler, it is apparent to me you ignore problems with your vehicle and they get worse as a result of your negligence. 15k miles to your first service??!! That is absurd!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Can someone offer any advice as to what could be up with the message center?
The day after we bought the car we took it in to get the battery replaced, it started to drag after about 2 weeks and we put a new starter on it ourselves. So the battery is the only issue we've ever had (knock on wood)...other than this, I love my car...just a little leery of it now after reading so many complaints and my disapperaing message center.
Thanks
J
Well, now I get this issue with the tie rod assembly at 53,000 miles. Only reason I found out about it was because of getting new tires. You can pretty much assume that the tie rod ends didn't go out just at 53,000... it likely happened sooner and I just didn't know about it. I was just starting to notice a slight amount of float in a steering system that had been pretty much firm and precise for the first couple years. With any gradual decline, it's hard to notice until something happens or it gets noticeably sloppy. Well, with any other vehicle known to man, even cheapo stuff, I don't know any car on the road today that has issues with major suspension wear before 200,000 miles, let alone 50K! As far as I'm concerned, that is just not acceptable. If I had read anything stating that I'd be replacing $1500 in suspension parts every 3 years on the thing I'd have just settled for a low end Japanese jobbie or gone for something more reliable like a Range Rover (talk about a garage queen). I just plunked down $500 for tires, my wife's no longer working due to us having our first child, and I'm shelling out over $500 a month for this thing. Chrysler just says "well, it's out of warranty"... so basically I have no idea when I'll be able to save up that $1500 to get it back on the road. So for now it sits in my driveway. I have a scooter, so I ride that to work instead.
And then last week I have a bad thought.... Racing season opens next Friday. I drive over the hill to the local track pretty much every Friday night. Since I've been reading up on the internet about the issues with the tie rod ends, a couple reports of "complete loss of steering on one side" have caught my eye. Now, I am not a slowpoke driver. I push my vehicles. I drive the Pacifica like a sports car with a fat rear end, and it handles the hills perfectly. Well, what is going to happen after I've fixed this little issue? I plunk down my $1500 and get the broken stuff replaced. What keeps that from happening again. What keeps my vehicle from having one of these "loss of steering" moments? And how painful would it be to find out there's a failure when I'm driving over the hill, carving a hard corner with a rather nasty drop to the outside? I'm actually coming to the conclusion that I don't want this car anymore. I can't rely on it. And I'm supposed to drive my family around in this thing??? Fat chance, eh.
Oh, and that interior fan issue... I swear it'll make you go nuts if it happens. Can't turn the fan off of high... just keeps on going. Sounds like you're following behind a taxiing 747, just winding up the engines for a takeoff. And it keeps going even after turning off the vehicle! Some other little turd of a module buried somewhere deep in the bowels of the dashboard has obviously taken a dump. God only knows what that's going to cost me to replace... if they can figure out which little plastic box brimming with cabling is the culprit on this issue. Of course, they'll probably charge me $200 again just to tell me that.
My current hope is that somewhere, someone at Chrysler has some sort of compassion and can take this pile off my hands. I'd be pretty happy if I could get my down payment ($7,000) back and just have them take the car off my hands. Consider the last three years of payments "rent". Take the piece of garbage and call it quits on milking me for every cent.
Oh, and my wife is reading up on these monstrosities as well... finds some article regarding the fuel system leaking and causing engine fires... great. Another fine mess.
I lament being a poor sap who fell for the sleek lines of this vehicle. The temptation of all that buttery tan leather and the onyx green exterior was too much for me. That 10 way power adjustable seat beckoned to me, promising to remember every crease of my backside. They got me, hook, line and sinker... and they reeled me in... and sold me this big boat anchor! I sometimes consider hanging out outside the dealership with a sign board, trying to warn people away from these cars. I wonder if I will ever be able to be rid of it.
by the way, a Range Rover is FAAARRRR from reliable. And never something that should be owned out of warranty. If you did, you'd be reminiscing about the good old days in your Pacifica.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Please, for all sense of decency there is left on the internet... please don't buy a Pacifica... and don't let friends buy a Pacifica. Heck, I wouldn't wish this pile of junk on an enemy!
NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V471000
www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Manufacturer DAIMLER-CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Recall Date: NOV 04, 2003
Potential Number Of Units Affected: 9579
Description FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Summary ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CHASSIS FUEL SUPPLY TUBE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED.
Consequence UNDER CERTAIN ENGINE AND VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONDITIONS, THE FUEL LINE MAY SEPARATE, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK AND AN INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY RETENTION CLIP TO THE FUEL LINE QUICK CONNECT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Some other quirks i've found in our 48 hours of ownership:
- climate control display has randomly faded 2 times
- Tire pressure monitor came on for the drive to work
although all tires were in good shape.
I'm hoping these are quirks that are fairly common and this car isn't a :lemon:
I bought a 2007 Touring model and was wondering if anybody has tried to upgrade it to have automatic headlights, like are offered in the Limited model?
Thanks,
James
i have an 05 touring and i am not sure if it would be the same for 07's but i just bought a auto dim electrochromatic rear view mirror and got the signal stalk that has the auto headlight option on it and it is working like the limited version.it is on automaticly.good luck with your upgrade.
KKODAL :shades:
Thanks.
Bob
The dealership told me they could not find anything wrong (of course it didn't go off when the car was at the dealer).
Has anyone had this problem? Overall were very happy with the car but I'm concerned that the problem is electrical and this is only the beginning.
if pulsating, sounds like a security system problem.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I read your post (dated 3/31/04) regarding how to remove the headslight assembly for a 2004 Pacifica. Unfortunately for me, even after removing the 2 screws and sliding my hand below the housing (as you suggested), I'm still having difficulty. Your message indicated that there is a "locking bracket at the bottom" of the assembly housing. My problem is that even with the rubber bumber depressed and my hand grabbing the assembly from below, I can not slide it out. It feels like there is still something holding the headlight housing in place at the bottom (toward the left side). Can you (or anyone else) offer any more tips? I'm applying a decent amount of force, and I'm afraid that if I push/pull much more, I might break something.
Does anyone know where I can find an online diagram of the passanger side headlight assembly? Thanks in advance for any help that you can offer! Happy Holidays! :confuse: :mad:
my husband and I removed the assembly and it was quite difficult, this was close to 2 yrs ago .Im wracking my brain trying to recall exactly what we did.we too were also worried that we'd break something, but we didnt. I do know we really had to pull hard and it did release itself.sorry, i dont have any diagrams, but my advice is to really pull on the assembly, it wont break.
Mike M.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Fshdreemr96
Miami, Florida