NHTSA Complaint #10349598 — 1997 DODGE CARAVAN

1997 DODGE CARAVAN. STARTING AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY COME ON, MAKE 4 TO 5 WIPES AND TURN OFF. WE MADE JOKES ABOUT THE GHOST RIDING WITH US. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, HAPPENING ABOUT EVERY MONTH OR SIX WEEKS. IT COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED ON DEMAND. FINALLY, AT 72,000, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REFUSED TO TURN ON FROM THE STALK--EXCEPT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WAS GIVEN A "SQUIRT" OF FLUID BY LIFTING UP ON THE TURN SIGNAL/WIPER CONTROL STALK, THEN THEY GAVE THE REGULAR THREE WIPES AND TURNED OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE SWITCH UNIT. IT DID NOT HELP. THEN THEY CALLED CHRYSLER'S "SUPER TECH 800 NUMBER" AND NO HELP WAS PROVIDED. SINCE THE CAR COULD NOT BE INSPECTED WITH NO WIPER FUNCTION, THE ENTIRE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED (COMPUTER) WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. COST: $741.00. SINCE ALL OF THE MECHANICAL PARTS OF THE WIPER SYSTEM WORKED, IF THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, I DETERMINED I WOULD SIMPLY PULL A HOT WIRE THROUGH THE DASH TO AN "ON-OFF" SWITCH AND CONNECT THAT UP TO THE WIPER FEED--ESTIMATED COST OF LESS THAN $10.00. *TR