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Electrical and Climate Control Problems
Sent to Car Experts April 19 08:55 PM

Hi Roland
       I have a 1994 Chysler Concorde with an electrical drain and climate control problems. Well to start, every morning the battery was low or completely dead. So naturally I had it checked out (Battery and alternator). The battery was threes years old so I replaced it and the alternator checked out fine. But I was still having the same problem. Also my climate control has a tendency to turn the defroster on full blast by itself. Full fan and heat. And I have no way to turn it off. No lights no functioning buttons. I have no control what so ever. Sometimes when I get frustrated enough, I take my fist and pound the right side (Passenger side) of the lower dash and and all the proper lights come on and I'm able to control the system again.
       You can guess the first thing I did was take it to dearler, They couldn't find any power drain and after checking the climate control system to see if it would do for them, Naturally it didn't do it. So when I went to pick the car up and the mechanic went to drive it, guess what? It did it. And right away they knew what it was. How nice, a 10 second diagnosis.
        Anyway, They told me I need (1) P/N 4759227 Body Control Module. Cost : $375.00 plus labor : $79.00, tax $27.24 = $481.24. So I felt I had no choice but to go ahead and fix it. Well after a week or so, I had no power drain but the climate control was doing the same thing it was doing before the Body Control Module was replaced. I went back to the dealer and they told me I need a AC/HEAT Control Head. They quoted me price of over $600.00 parts and labor. I'm sorry I couldn't see putting that much into it especially since I haven't had the electrical drainage problem anymore. So I told them to forget about it. I'll live with it.
        Well that was about a year ago. Now I'm having the same electical problems I had before. One thing I noticed though. When I jump the battery to start the car, The climate control is on and set on AC through the vents. I never leave the climate control on or the radio for that matter since last year. This has happened six times in the last couple of weeks. Oh, one thing I want to mention. Lately, when I get in the car I can tell if I'm going to have problems starting it when I look at the interior lights to see if they're dime.
So I put the keys in the igniton and turn to start and I notice the AC is on when I know I didn't use it before and this is before I jump the battery. So it can't have anything to do with me jumping the battery. I don't know. Sounds crazy and I can't figure it out.
           I just wanted to know if you ever heard of such a thing and whether or not you think the climate control system has anything to do with the electical drainage?

               Thanks for your time
                             Larry

 

Optional Information:
1994 Chrysler Chrysler 3.5 Liter

Already Tried:
Jumping off a bridge.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $20
Answer
April 20 1:00 PM (16 hours and 4 minutes and 51 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

hello!

In our shop we have replaced HVAC control heads on these vehicles to cure similiar problems. We don't see very many BCM failures on these models though.

Usually, diagnosis of this type of fault is pretty easy IF a tech can happen to catch it acting up when a DRB_III scan tool is installed; otherwise they often leacve no clues as to what has happened.

The $600 you are being quoted for a control head assy seems pretty steep. According to my estimating software, if you have auto temp control on this model the price for a BRAND NEW one from Mopar is $445.00 (part # 4596005). Often, there are reman units available through chrysler also. You will also be able to find these in salvage yards for less than $100.

Replacing the control head is very easy and takes about 15 minutes. Just remove teh trim plate from the dash, remove teh screws holding the control to the dash (4), unplug the electrical plug, and reverse to assemble. There are no cables, hoses, or anything else to deal with; it's very easy and you can do it yourself with no special tools (just a socket set and screwdriver). No programming or scan tool is needed to replace the control head.

I hope this is helpful to you; if so, an accept would be most aprpeciated! Thanks!

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Steve7654 -- Auto Service Technician -- 99% Positive Feedback on 1722 Car Accepts
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Answer
April 25 10:42 AM (4 days and 21 hours later)
         
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