Blinking dash lights
 

Hi folks,

99 Grand Caravan

Starts and runs normally. After about 30 seconds the dash and overhead computer lights flash at a steady rate, about twice per second. If I turn on the park lights or headlights the dash dims normally.

What's it trying to tell me?

Thanks,

jvh

When I got home it was getting dark and now I see the headlights are blinking too.

Make sure battery post connections are clean and tight. Have the battery load tested. Check battery cable ground connections and battery power connection at PDC for looseness or corrosion. Test alternator output at battery connections using a voltmeter. Should see a steady 13.5 to 14.5 volts with engine running.

Thanks.

Battery is quite new but it did pull down pretty hard when I tried to start the other day. Battery post needed cleaning for sure. Didn't have tools for that while at work so I pulled some fuses like engine and EBT or some such, basically all TLA's I didn't recognize and it cleared. Got back home (from out of town work) this weekend and cleaned the posts.

I hear different ideas about what to put on terminals from silicon paste to WD 40. I haven't done this battery yet but I have good luck gluing a penny halfway between the post. Got the idea from the zinc sacrificial anodes on my boat's lower unit.


thanks,

jvh

Congrats. Any old grease works for me.

Meant to ask earlier. Are the blinking lights an intended indication of some sort or just an abnormal state. Can't imagine why lights would blink unless part of the anti-theft algorithms are activated.

thanks again,

jvh