DODGE CARAVAN CENTRE DASH AREA

I presume you have a service manual, though I may include brief pointers from it to make this advice more cohesive. Some of what I cover here is in the service manual if you can find it, often not in the section you'd expect it in - check both the instrument panel and specific-item sections.

To service the cigar lighter power socket, heat-A/C panel, and more relays and electronic modules (referring to "Premium Console Removal" in the Chrysler manual for some views):
- pull up on on ash tray insert to remove it
- reach 2 tray latches above ash tray w/fingers to pull down in order to to pull the ashtray/cupholder assembly out (I recommend three hands for the task :-). (The latches are arched spring-bars whose downward motion is limited such that the edge of the glide-button on top of the spring-bar may not clear the restraining lip. Try getting your fingernail fully forward on the end of the spring-bar to push it down a bit more. I suggest Once out, you can fiddle with the shape of the spring-bar to minimize the risk next time.) See illustration.
- pull vent grill & surround trim assembly out (1 clip each corner)
- pull out heater controls (2 screws)
- the lighter socket is a standard cheap type. The centre unscrews, but note the anti-rotation notch in shell & dont't forget to replace the large non-metallic washer when you put it all back together
- before putting the surround trim assembly back in, check the light bulb (pull its plastic socket sideways out of the metal holder)
- hidden behind much of the foregoing is an electrical panel with relays and circuit breakers

And hidden behind the bin or CD changer below that are two electrical modules. You want to remove the end of the air duct (2 screws) to get at them. After you remove the bin which has two screws at top and one at each bottom corner (the left one is oriented fore-aft the right one sideways, or is it the other way around? wierd!)

I suspect the modules are:
- "body computer" (which the service manual claims is "right of the steering column"), probably with one blue and one natural colour 25-contact connector
- an airbag module (which the service manual claims is in the "centre rear of instrument panel"), with one yellow 4-contact connector and one black 13-contact connector.
(Supposedly the transmission control module is on the right firewall forward side or RH fender shield (without and with 4WD), the ABS module if installed is well below the power centre (underhood LH), and a "powertrain control module" is immediately under the power centre location aka "LH fender shield (that module being what is called the "engine computer" by those of us who think the powertrain is both engine and transmission - note the transmission computer is a late addition to the Caravan). I suspect the more sealed and securely mounted module is the airbag one.
The relays are the "micro relay block" shown in the service manual's component location diagram, wiring diagram AS-HK 152 which covers power doors, windows and seats as well as fog lamps and a "name brand speakers relay" - diagram claims location is "right side of I.P.".
(A relay for speakers? yes, on the wiring diagram for radio "with NBS". It feeds power to the optional speakers in the front doors and liftgate which apparently use power unlike regular speakers. In my vehicle those speakers are labelled Infinity, as is the radio. They are powerful.)

To service the remote door lock module and the radio you go in from the top of the dash, popping off some covers and unscrewing others. The radio's connectors are accessible from above once you get the remote door lock module out of the way, radio removal requires taking the top centre dash trim off to get at two bolts.

Heater fan is now on separate page.

© Keith Sketchley Page version 2007.09.11 (1910PDT)

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