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Turning on High Beam causes electrical interruption

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2.3K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  RIP  
#1 ·
Have 2011 T&C and tonight on way home when I went to switch on the automatic headlight dimmer when the high beams came on the dash light flickered and the information center went blank for a couple of seconds. Every time I tried to put on the high beams, even after turning off the automated function it would still go through this power interruption and repeat it about every 5 seconds until I turned off the high beam ... anybody have any clue what is going on? Never had an issue with this before tonight.
Thanks
 
#3 · (Edited)
High current draw on a weak battery? Any indication of the same if you turn on say the A/C or defrost. If yes then it may just be a weak battery or connections. Could also be loose or corroded ground connections in the circuit. High beams draw a higher current but I wouldn't think it high enough to over tax a fully charged battery. If no then I would suspect something amiss in the Cabin Compartment Node (CCN) or TIPM ( fuse box). On 5th generation vans (your van) these two components took over the functions of the BCM and FCM that markfothebeast eluded to. The CCN is built into the instrument cluster. Without test equipment about all you can do is have the battery tested and inspect connections for corrosion or damage.
 
#4 ·
Problem Solved

That was it! I removed the negative cable from the battery and cleaned the post and clamp and the problem is gone! Now I assume it was due to a bad contact ... why do they use the banded clamps anyway ... asking for trouble, and not due to the fact that by removing the cable it reset the computer. I had replaced the battery less than a year ago so I was pretty sure it wasn't a bad battery, but they have been know to have defects, so I took the next simplest step and WALA, that did it. I was thinking here goes $500 to get my high beams to work again but I lucked out ... this time ... knock on wood.
Thanks Again Everyone.
 
#7 ·
That was it! I removed the negative cable from the battery and cleaned the post and clamp and the problem is gone! Now I assume it was due to a bad contact ... why do they use the banded clamps anyway ... asking for trouble, and not due to the fact that by removing the cable it reset the computer. I had replaced the battery less than a year ago so I was pretty sure it wasn't a bad battery, but they have been know to have defects, so I took the next simplest step and WALA, that did it. I was thinking here goes $500 to get my high beams to work again but I lucked out ... this time ... knock on wood.
Thanks Again Everyone.
Been floating on forums for a decade. You'd be amazed how many times the simple things fix what look like complex problems. Nice work.