Questions and Answers

Plymouth Voyager Flashing A/C Lights Q. Vince, Here's what I got: 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager 3.8 liter V-6 Manual transmission 55,000 miles PS, AC, Cruise Control

Here's what's happening, I just replaced the battery. I tried to start it one morning and it was acting very peculiar, locks going haywire, dashboard lights fading in and out, etc. And, the van wouldn't turn over, wouldn't even attempt to.

I figured after six years it's time to check and replace the battery. The serviceman told my wife that the battery wouldn't hold a charge and promptly sold her a new one, nice guy.

I installed the new battery and the van works fine, with the exception of the lights on the A/C console blink. The A/C light, recirc light, and REAR WIPER - WASHER - INTERMITTENT light; five lights in all. I'm told that there are procedures for which buttons to depress simultaneously to run some sort of self diagnostic and the ensuing codes that will both solve this problem and tell me about other problems.

These codes are above and beyond the flashing service engine light you get from cycling the on/off position of the key. Can you point me in the right direction to the web site that has these procedures/codes?

Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Michael

A. You actually have two systems trying to tell you something. The A/C and Recirc LED Flashing Simultaneously is one and the flashing REAR WIPER and INTERMITTENT LEDs is the other.

Fail Codes/Level are displayed using the REAR WIPER and INTERMITTENT LED's flashing in the sequence indicated below. The REAR WIPER LED represents the Level and the INTERMITTENT LED represents the Value.

After Calibration/Diagnostics is completed, the control will begin flashing Level 1 codes. Depressing the WASH button will cycle to Level 2, depressing WASH again will cycle to Level 3. Each time the WASH button is depressed will cycle to the next level. After Level 5 is reached, you will cycle back to Level 1. If the Control is a Heater Only you will only cycle from Levels 1 to 3.

The possible codes are:

• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Not Flashing
• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Flashing Once
• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Flashing Twice
• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Flashing Three Times
• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Flashing Four Times
• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Flashing Five Times
• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Flashing Six Times
• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Flashing Seven Times
• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Flashing Eight Times
• Rear Wiper LED Flashing Once, Int. LED Flashing Nine Times

Once we know what the codes are, we can work from there.

A/C and Recirc LED Flashing Simultaneously:

FAILED COOLDOWN TEST.

1. Determine if the refrigerant system is operating correctly:
   • Check the outlet air temperature

2. Feel the compressor suction plumbing, is it hot?
3. If not OK, go to Step 3. If OK, repeat the Calibration Diagnostic and Cooldown test.
4. If system does not seem to be operating correctly, perform diagnostics for poor performance:
   • Low refrigerant charge
   • No charge
   • Compressor not operating

COOLDOWN TEST:
Verify that the test was done with the evaporator at room temperature. The test consists of starting the compressor and measuring the time it takes for the evaporator temperature to fall 20°F. If the compressor has been running, the evaporator is cold already and will not be capable of falling 20°F.

If the test was run with a cold evaporator, turn A/C off and turn the blower motor switch to high position for 3 to 5 minutes till the evaporator is to room temperature. Then repeat the Calibration Diagnostic and Cooldown test.

WON'T PASS COOLDOWN TEST:
If refrigerant system is performing properly and the system will not pass test. Repeat the Calibration Diagnostic and Cooldown test to determine if the evaporator temperature FIN sensor has developed an open or a short circuit. If the HVAC control module still passes Calibration test, verify Cooldown test manually with a pocket thermometer.

The outlet air temperature must drop at least 20°F within two minutes. If the vehicle passes with the manual thermometer, take HVAC control to level 4 (evaporator probe temperature readout) and repeat the Cooldown test. Ensure the evaporator is at room temperature before starting test. Check if evaporator probe will drop the temperature 20°F in two minutes.

If the Evaporator Probe is found to be faulty, check that the sensor is positioned in the evaporator fins properly. If not, correct and repeat test. If okay, replace the evaporator probe.

Once the repairs are completed, repeat the Calibration Diagnostic and Cooldown test. Repeating the test is necessary to clear the fault codes.