Body Control Module 98 Caravan-problem?

I had to recently replace the body control module in my 98 Caravan
because of a windshield wiper problem. I could only afford a used one
which solved that problem but created another one. Now my total mileage
(kilometerage?) reading has gone up from approx 170,000km to approx
220,000km immediately after replacing this. I had asked a mechanic if
anything like this would happen and he assured me that it wouldn't. So
I'm asking myself what could have caused this then? Is the mechanic
wrong or what? Does this body control module hold or control the
mileage data?
Thanks in advance,
Geo.

 

You got it!!!The mileage is stored in the BCM and can only be reset by
Chrysler and I dont mean the dealer. You lucky thats the only problem you
got from swapping out those modules, I h ave heard alot more horry stories
then what you have

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

I was lucky on a vehicle of mine - lost 15k miles when the BCM was
changed. Darn.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Bill you swapped out with a used one or Chrysler didnt program it right?

Glenn

 

Used one. BTW - when you say a dealer can't program it, but it has to
be programed by Chrysler - how does one go about having that done, i.e.,
where does one take/send it, and how much does it cost?

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Once we determine that the BCM or cluster (which ever stores the mileage)
is bad we play an order for that part with the mileage or the order slip.
Chrysler will program the mileage in and send the part out. The vehicle is
NOT allowed to be driven untill the new BCM is installed. My Cluster went
out on me on my Durango in Florida over the week and I have been waiting
since Monday for the replacement to get here.

Glenn

 

The last time I ordered a BCM the cost was about $350.
My vehicle has the MAX care service contract with a rental up to 5 days so
it doesnt effect me

 

So let's say I have a working BCM from the junk yard (such is the case
with mine), and I simply want the mileage readout corrected. Do I send
that BCM in and they program it and send it back and charge a nominal
fee (if so, approx. how much would that be), *OR* do they take that in
as a core and send me a refurb and charge me the full price, treating it
the same as if the one I turned in was defective (not distinguishing
between a simple mileage reset and a failed unit in need of repair)?
Would they refuse to process it because I'm not having the dealer do any
diagnostics and installation - all I want is mileage corrected for the
vehicle in a BCM I obtained from a third-party source and carry in and out?

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Chrysler is not in the repair business so I would suspect they would only
sell a new one

 

Well Bill, if it were that easy to send a BCM in to have the mileage changed
wouldn't you think that alot of fraud would take place? If im going to sell
my Truck that has 100k on it but want to back the mileage up to 50k I just
send it in to Chrysler for a back up mileage? It don't work that way. They
will not change the mileage from a BCM/cluster, The mileage that is on the
RO and form that goes off to Chrysler has to be the same as what is on the
component. Either way you will get a refurbished one. If you were to
diagnose your own bcm/cluster and needed a new one I would think that the
parts department would want the one from your vehicle first. The vehicle is
not allowed to be driven when the module is ordered. In other words my truck
(still waiting on my Cluster) is not allowed to accumulate mileage with the
old part still on my truck.

Glenn

 

you have to go thru a dealer for that

 

I see your point. In one sense I see the purpose in all of this, but I
think overall things have gotten way too complicated. The chances of
having a problem that is prohibitively expensive to fix over the life of
the vehicle have gotten way too high - forces a lot of otherwise capable
vehicles into the junk yard way too early. I'm not sure we are making
progress with this stuff any more - I'm thinking in particular of overly
complex things like SKIM - the new problems they create are 10 times
worse than what they are supposed to be solving. The lack of the
reliability of the hardware to make it all happen just doesn't net out.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

You have'nt seen nothng yet, you think they have been complicated. wait
untill the newer models with this CAN-C and CAN -B bus systems start
having problems. right now they are in the dealers,

Glenn

 

Glenn, this is completely stupid. Some states - mine for example (Oregon)
once the
vehicle reaches 100K miles they REFUSE to put mileage on the title. They
ONLY put
mileage on the title if the title is changing hands if mileage is under
100K. In other
words, the State of Oregon has determined that a vehicle after 100K had
completely
depreciated and a vehicle with 100K on it is worth the same money as a
vehicle with
200K on it. Oregon did not used to do this but started doing it this way
after they
replaced the computer system at the DMV. (another horror story for a
different post)
I very strongly suspect that the feds don't require mileage tracking on
vehicles after
100K which is why the state is getting away with it.

From a value standpoint it is very true that at some point it makes no
difference
how much mileage is on a vehicle in terms of it's value. Would you for
example
pay any more for an old car with 220K miles on it vs an old car with 280K
miles
on it? Come off it.

I think Chrysler is blowing smoke up your ass with the scary stories about
fraud
in mileage. The real truth of the matter is that Chrysler is too damnded
lazy to
do it and would rather people pay them for a new module than charge a
reasonable
fee for programming an old one. Clearly all Chrysler would have to do is
make a
policy that they will change BMC mileage to anything you want as long as the
mileage figure you want is over some figure - such as 150K - that is
determined
to be End Of Life for the vehicle. Or, they will change mileage if the
change is
less than 10% of the previous figure.

You might try plugging some numbers into Kelly Blue Book sometime - you will
find the higher the mileage you put in the less the vehicle value changes.
You will
also find that KBB doesen't rate vehicles older than 20 years. The market
has
spoken on this issue and has determined that when the mileage and age is
high
enough, that it makes no difference in value what the mileage is. Chrysler
should
be listening.

Ted

 

Ok contact your congressman and tell him that

2 different things

Purchase a used car service contract and extend the mileage and tell me it
makes no difference to Chrysler. Google Chrysler....get the 800 number and
call them ok? Chrysler and every other manufacturer have guildlines that
they follow. this is one of them. we dont make the rules!!!

Come off what????

AS I said, google Chrysler, Make the all. let me know the results.

contact your local CP parts dealer Ted.

 

Ok contact your congressman and tell him that

2 different things

Purchase a used car service contract and extend the mileage and tell me it
makes no difference to Chrysler. Google Chrysler....get the 800 number and
call them ok? Chrysler and every other manufacturer have guidelines that
they follow. this is one of them. we don't make the rules!!!

Come off what????

AS I said, google Chrysler, Make the all. let me know the results.

contact your local CP parts dealer Ted.

 

How many companies offer used car service contracts on vehicles that
have 150K+ miles on them?

Google Chrysler....get the 800 number and

You are not listening which isn't unusual.

OK, so Chrysler and it's service contract companies think a car value is
still
significantly affected by mileage even at the 100K Perfectly fine.

So, let me ask you - do you think that Chrysler and it's service contract
companies still think car value is significantly affected by mileage at 150K
miles?
What about 200K? What about 250K?

At some mileage point Chrysler's service
contract companies aren't going to write a contract on a used vehicle.

Do I know what that point is? No. Do I care? No. That is why I
said the statement SOME FIGURE.

I DO KNOW that that point exists. If you believe otherwise then please
inform the group what service contract companies out there will write
contracts on 250K+ mile cars and I'll go to the junkyard and collect
a whole passel of them for $100 per car, put service contracts on them
and just start driving them until they conk out. Within a year I'll get
them all fixed for free according to your logic.

So all Chrysler needs to do is say they will happily reprogram the BCM
to ANY MILEAGE FIGURE THAT IS BEYOND THIS POINT for
a fee.

Did you not understand this? Did you not get it?

Ted

 

Ted, Im not going to get into these Childish debates with you. I don't write
the guidelines, I don't work for Chrysler, I just go by the rules and
regulations. You make no sense at all.Do you want me to get you the 800
phone number from Chrysler so you can debate this with them?

 

You lack common sense Ted, Think about, just think ok?
fraud /fr?d/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[frawd]
Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
-noun 1. deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence,
perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.
2. a particular instance of such deceit or trickery: mail fraud;
election frauds.

 

qaftermarket is already there and if someone wants to spend 400 grand they
can access everything with a laptop losing the scantool