The last two mornings (about 9 degrees), I would go out and start my truck (no problems there), and neither my heater blower fan or my turn signals would work. The truck would start and the radio woudl work fine. After about 10 minutes of warming up, everything would work and be fine from then on out.

What gives?

 

Sorry, it's a '85 F150 XLT Lariat, 300 inline 6, 4 speed 4X4.

 

My daughter has a similar problem with a '01 Dodge Caravan, except her radio and wipers don't work either. The weather doesn't seem to be of any consequence tho. It's been to a dealer and they tell her nothing is wrong. I am at a loss as to what would cause this. Anyone with any ideas would really be apppreciated.
If it was doing the opposite and shutting things down I would suspect a relay getting hot, but not working cold then to start working after it warms up doesn't make any sense to me.

 

Your key may not be returnning all the way back. The ign. actuator sticks due to lack of lubrication.

 

What about the gauges? Lights? Battery? Cruise control? Power windows?

 

The problems seems to be the wipers, heater, and radio just don't come on after starting. As far as I can tell everything else seems to work fine. (guage cluster, lites all good) You can get in and drive just as long as you don't need the heat or wipers.
I've tried wiggling the key every which way I can, even moving it back towards off. Nothing seems to have any effect. Shutting it off and restarting doesn't do anything either.
Doesn't seem to effect anything. i.e. no strange smells or anything of that nature.
Once they come on then all is well until you shut it off and leave it sit for a while ( usually between 20-30 minutes) then things don't work again. If it sits off for a short time everything comes back on immediately, (inside 20 min) no problems.
I don't ever recall encountering this before, probably why it is so perplexing.
As is to be expected the dealer was absolutely no help. Not even a speculation on where to look.
Thanks, R.

 

That's a very unusual group of affected parts. I would suspect the BCM, but that almost always causes the gauges to go out, or at least the dash lights to flash. More than likely, it's a bad connection to the chassis for one of the ground wires under the dash. I know that doesn't help much, but I'd go through the ground points with a fine tooth comb before I spent the money on a new BCM.

Take care,
~Chris

 

danny owens, you da man!

The key wasn't returning all the way back. When I turn it back, everything works fine! Once it warms up around here I will take it apart and lubricate it.

Thanks for the help. The board comes through again!

 

Chris -- Actually that makes sense, I've had ground problems in Dodges before, I'll have to check that out the first chance I get (probably after I get a little better weather around here!!)
Sometimes it's the simplest ideas that serve the best.
Thanks, Rich

 

Keep me posted.

 

I was just informed yesterday that it is currently not doing this, so my money would go towards a ground somewhere.

 

I hope you will be thoroughly compensated for performing such a miraclous fix over the phone!

 

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight !!!