Grand C: battery dies quickly when doors open long

I was at a campground with a friend - we both own a 2002 Dodge Grand
Caravan. We noticed that the battery of both cars die within a day if
we leave the doors open (sliding doors and rear door). We tested both
batteries - they are fine. It is a leak in the system / bug in the
design. Any suggestions for a solution, other than keeping the doors
shut or pulling the fuses?

Thanks,

Mark

 

Could that be because the interior lights in the vans remain on with the
doors open?

 

My experience with a 2002 T&C van is that it manages the lights very well;
it will turn off the reading lights or headlights if they are left on
accidentally. I have taken it camping and left the doors open for quite a
while, though not the whole day, without any problems. (I did have the
lights turned off manually) I will be interested to hear any results.

 

On mine, the body controller turns the interior lights off if no door
movement is detected after ~10-15 minutes. My 95 did this too. I've got
the base trim level in the '03 GC, so I would imagine the OP's got at least
that level of body management, but I could be wrong.

I wonder if he's got the power sliders/rear hatch opener.

--Geoff

 

Yeah, I've got the power doors plus the rear hatch opener - and so
does the friend. So it must be something in that area. I did not use
the electric doors at all, just kept them open... All thoughts are
appreciated!

M

 

My Neon shuts off the dome light after 15 minutes of inactivity. Hopefully a
Grand Caravan would as well. I've used the dome light for several hours in
several cars while camping and not had a problem. I guess it depends if the
OP is forcing the dome light to stay on for hours on end or not.

I'm wondering if the OP is using any other electrical accessories as well.
Radio, something plugged into the cig lighter, headlights, parking lights
etc.

Do those things draw power once the door is opened?

 

Our conclusion is that the sliding doors and/or the power hatch draw
power when opened - and drain the battery to the extent that starting
the engine is no longer possible after 5 hours or so.

Errr... would someone with a similar minivan mind trying to duplicate
this over the weekend ;-) ???

 

even thought the bcm shuts off the lites the doors have modules in them and they
are waiting for a command from the switches inside the latches.and will remaain
that way intill the system is put to rest by closing the doors hence the battery
draw. removing the iod fuse may stop that draw