Battery/Electrical - Dead Battery, Accessory Malfunction

BULLETIN NUMBER:
08-10-00

GROUP:
Electrical

DATE:
Mar.24, 2000

SUBJECT:
Dead Battery And/Or Ignition Operated Electrical Accessories Function With Ignition OFF

MODELS:
2000 (AN) Dakota
1998 - 2000 (DN) Durango

NOTE: THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO DURANGO AND DAKOTA QUAD CAB VEHICLES.

DISCUSSION:
Batteries that go dead for no apparent reason must include an "Ignition-Off Draw Test" as part of the diagnosis. Ignition-Off Draw lest procedures can be found in the 2000 Durango or 2000 Dakota Service Manual on pages 8A-13 and 8A-14. If the Ignition-Off Draw Test identifies that ignition operated electrical accessories still function although the ignition switch is OFF, the root cause of the problem may be difficult to diagnose and could even lead to misdiagnosis. Components such as the radio and rear wiper circuit are supplied with ignition voltage and cannot operate with the ignition switch OFF unless they are back fed by other electrical components. Electrical circuits that are fed with both battery voltage and ignition voltage may be the most likely source of battery voltage back feeding. Battery voltage back feeding can occur when a short across the battery voltage circuit and the ignition voltage circuit occurs internal to the component.

The power door lock switch is a switch that is fed with both battery voltage and ignition voltage. If the power door lock switch becomes shorted internally across the battery feed and the ignition feed, components such as the blower fan, rear wiper, and the radio may function even with the ignition key in the OFF position. If the component is left ON, the customer may eventually be left with a dead battery. The easiest way to determine if the power door lock switch is the root cause of the problem is to disconnect the power door lock switch. If the symptoms and the ignition-off draw are no longer apparent, the root cause is most likely the power door lock switch. To repair the condition, the power door lock switch must be replaced. If the symptoms and the ignition-off draw are still apparent, reconnect the power door lock switch and continue diagnosing the ignition-off draw.

POLICY: Information Only