2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser: battery drain or dead battery

Filed Mar 25, 2017 · Lights · 48,000 miles · IL

On returning home from an event in the evening I parked my vehicle in the garage. I turned off lights and then the ignition and everything shut down except the fog lights stayed on (the vehicle was completely shut off). I never had the fog lights on that evening. I tried various a temps I.e. Pushing the butten in, turning the vehicle on and then off again, etc., but did not have any success. My wife went online and found (from many people having the same problem with their pt crusiers) to put the left turn signal on, shut off the vehicle, then push the fog light butten in. This worked so that I didn't wake up to a dead battery. If you go online you will find many people who own pt cruisers with the identical problem including some having smoke coming from the multi function switch. I hope to hear from someone soon!!

Filed Oct 4, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 120,000 miles · FL

Fog lights came on by themselves while parked with no key in ignition (while at work). Common issue found all over the internet. Cause is a defective multi-function switch. Smelled a burning smell. Repair shop was unable to find any problems through diagnostics which was before the car had been seen during the day with it's running lights on. That drained the battery and required a jump start. Happened several times. Due to overwhelming number of complaints listed throughout the internet for this same issue we feel a recall should be issued as this is a fire hazard. The 15 amp fuse (number 8 on interior fuse panel) never blew but was discolored from heat.

Filed Sep 19, 2009 · Electrical · 4,000 miles · LA

Car won't start at times. Had to jump it then it started. Something draining the battery if car sits for a day or two. Changed battery 3 times, still having problem. Bought car brand new, dealer still can't find the problem. Car not reliable. Started having problems not long after I bought it. I've had to charge the battery and then after a few days would have trouble starting.

Filed Jul 15, 2009 · Electrical, Lights · 91,000 miles · CO

Found 2002 pt cruiser with dead battery on occasion, no consistency. Replaced battery (7.75 years old, 90k miles) after 3rd instance over 2 months, issue resolved for about 2 weeks. Car parked in hot parking lot, fog lights were dim when approaching car. Car would not turn over to start, had it jumped. Upon returning home, went to turn off car, fog lights would not turn off. Fiddling with light switch would make them go off temporarily, then right back on. Found turning left blinker in on position kept fogs off. Researching issue, found the following forum: http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/chrysler-pt-cruiser/tf81khbdldvt92ah2 where hundreds of people have experienced the same issue. Waiting to hear from chrysler on replacement part, as all online sources say it is back ordered 30-60 days.

Filed Apr 28, 2009 · Lights · 72,000 miles · MA

The control switch for the headlights on my 2002 pt cruiser has gone bad causing the fog lights to be permanently on and draining the battery.

Filed Mar 29, 2009 · Lights · 58,000 miles · FL

I own a 2002 pt cruiser touring edition and recently I have been coming out to my car to find the battery dead, I have a newer battery so this baffled me until I realized today that there is a short of some kind in the multi switch for the headlights and fog lights that caused the fog lights to remain on eventhough everything else was turned off. The following link shows may others are having the same issue and like others until I find out why this is happening I have pulled the fuse for my foglights.http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0f6957. This is dangerous if there is a short in these switches it can cause a fire and given the massive amt of people all over car forums having this issue why has noone issued a recall on these switches?

Filed Feb 10, 2009 · Lights · 85,000 miles · TX

2002 chrysler pt cruiser, the multi-function switch, which controls the fog-lights, headlights, and interior panel is faulty. It shorts out, causing smoke, or the fog lights come on when the car is parked, and drains the battery of all power. Driving down the road, the light comes on indicating the fog lights are on, when they have not been activated, then there is a burning smell coming from the steering column, you have to turn the lights on, turn on the blinkers or stop to get this problem to subside. Chrysler has had this problem with thousands of the multi-function switches that have the fog-light option. Please issue an immediate recall before a fire occurs which means the loss of someone's' life. This can be prevented by immediate action on the governments part. The multifunction switch is faulty, very weak.

Filed Jun 24, 2007 · Electrical · MN

There is a widespread problem with the chrysler pt cruiser wherein the multi-function switch on the column malfunctioned, causing the fog lights to come unexpectedly, completely draining the battery . This problem has been going on for sometime and chrysler refused to correct it, which would appear to have been caused by defective parts. The repair charge wa s upwards of $200.

Filed Jun 9, 2006 · Lights · 54,999 miles · CA

Feb 2006 - june 2006: indicator light on dashboard lights intermittently, appears to indicate a headlamp failure, but no burnt-out bulb is apparent. June 8, 2006: indicator lamp will only go out when high beam or turn signals are on. June 8, 2006: battery dead after car parked for 5 hours. Jump start successful. June 8, 2006: read manual. Discovered that car had fog lights, and that the indicator light meant that the fog lights were on. Only the fog light switch was off. And turning the switch on and off didn't solve the problem. June 9, 2006: pulled relevant fuse. Hope nothing critical is on the same circuit.