1997 Dodge Grand Caravan: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Nov 11, 2014 · Electrical · WA

At random gauges will stop working on the dashboard and the ABS light will turn on.

Filed Jul 21, 2014 · Acceleration, Airbags · 106,500 miles · FL

I purchased my 1997 dodge grand caravan from a private party in 2009, and shortly after the gauge cluster stopped functioning while I was driving. Check engine and ABS lights came on which on checking with my mechanic said my ABS system is non-functional as is all other instrument related readings. A short time later, the panel came back on and worked for awhile than shut off again. Someone said hit the panel face and the gauges should come back on. I did and it did. For awhile. Over time the gauge failure interval grew shorter and shorter, and hitting the panel finally failed to return the use of the gauges. To replace this gauge cluster is an $800.00 plus repair in a shop with a rebuild panel costing over $200.00 by itself. I don't want to know what a dealer will charge. Upon further investigation, I have learned the gauge failure culprit is cold solder joints on the back side of the circuit board of the gauge cluster and is an all too common problem with this class of vehicle. This deficiency can easily be avoided by better quality control from the manufacturer.

Filed Jun 4, 2011 · Brakes · 163,955 miles · MA

While driving our 97 dodge grand caravan le to drop off a visitor, halfway through the trip, I had to stop at a light and all of a sudden the brake pedal just went all the way to firewall. Since caravan has a foot brake, I managed to drive vehicle with hazard lights on using the foot brake. There was a smell of brake fluid that instant so I figured a leak had occurred somewhere. After getting home, I checked area where leak was coming from and saw it on the stainless steel braid connection underneath driver seat near the ABS module.

Filed Mar 7, 2009 · Brakes · 210,000 miles · NJ

Sudden brake failure when departing my home. Pedal went fully to the floor. Later inspection revealed heavy corrosion at the brake line joints with the short section of flexible brake line just rear of the ABS box. No significant corrosion aside from the vicinity of the flex line. One of the corroded brake lines had a pinhole leak that triggered the brake failure.

Filed Jun 8, 2007 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · VA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge grand caravan. The contact smells something burning when the brakes are applied. The vehicle continues to stop normally. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer, but the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the ABS wires were touching. Presently, no failures have occurred. The current and failure mileages were 120,000. Updated 09/18/07

Filed Jul 11, 2006 · Brakes, Electrical · 131,000 miles · VA

The battery light came on in my 1997 grand caravan and a couple of minutes later the ABS light came on. When I got to work I cut the car off and tried to restart it. It did start but the cut off. Then it would not start at all. No dash lights anything. I waited about 3 hours and tried to start it again and nothing happened. When the tow truck came and the driver got in and tried to start it, again it was totally dead. He left the key in the on position while we talked and then about a minute later the dash light came on and he started it. The dealer could not find anything wrong with it. This happened once before about a year ago. On the way to work all the lights came on in the dash and I pulled over and cut the car off. After about 10 minutes I tried it again and it started with no problem. I am concerned that it is a problem with the computer. Have you heard of this problem before?

Filed Apr 23, 2006 · Electrical, Lights · 120,000 miles · IA

1. Wipers turns on automatically - usually when a turn signal is on. 2. Service engine light turns on frequently with p1698 code and no other pending code. Present interval at an average of a week. Dealer cannot find the root of the problem. Found out this incident is very common as discussed in several chatrooms. Incident usually starts with ABS light on then instrument cluster dies, followed by airbag light then the service engine light. At incident, power door locks does not work. At incident, sometimes ABS and airbag light will turn off after s short drive then the instrument panel will work. 3.rear interior lights remain lit even when dash switch is off and no door ajar. Sometimes a single interior light turns on when starting engine and remain lit.

Filed Dec 15, 2005 · Brakes, Engine · 102,000 miles · AZ

The vehicle's ABS and check engine light have been going on and off for about 6 months. We had a mechanic look into it and replaced a relay or switch that belonged to the blower motors (fans by radiator). The lights seemed to go away until a couple of weeks ago, the ABS light returned and the brakes act as though they are going to give out at any time. They have to be depressed for quite a length of time before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. There is also a weird sound of air or as if air where coming out when the brakes get depressed. I have had to add fluid once or twice a week and have been told by a mechanic buddy that there is very good chance its the brake booster due to the sound of air. I went online and noticed there were recalls for this in a couple of grand caravans but my VIN # doesn't fall into the suggested VIN range.

Filed Oct 19, 2005 · Airbags, Electrical · UT

Dt: 1997 dodge grand caravan. Vehicle was manufactured in 1996. The ABS light came on and will not go off. Vehicle was taken to the dealership, who fixed the master cylinder because the light to airbags stayed on. The instrumental panel lights blinked off and on occasionally. When seeing the lights on the dashboard the consumer could look at this as a warning, because I could not see how fast she was going or how much gas there was in the gas tank. This has been a problem for about a year. There were no accidents. I the consumer took vehicle to dealership in 2003, and they changed the clock spring. Also, the dealer said there was nothing else they could do. First, the ABS light would come on and go off, now all the lights came on, but nothing was working on dashboard.

Filed Jul 3, 2003 · Electrical · 55,000 miles · IL

My 97 dodge grand caravan has an electrical defect causing the gear selector, ABS, and service engine soon light to display on the dash. Dealer is unable to determine cause.

Filed Sep 24, 1998 · Electrical · CT

Abs warning light comes on intermittently and remain on for seconds to nearly an hour. During this period, directional signals and power locks become inoperable. There's also a straining sound under the hood. Dealer tested vehicle, but could not reproduce the problem.

Filed Aug 19, 1998 · Brakes · WA

Abs and traction control has taken more than a month.