The 1999-2003 Chrysler Concorde/Dodge Intrepid Electrical

Body Control Module

The Body Control Module (BCM) has been upgraded to support the J1850 vehicle communications and diagnostics bus and now mounts directly on the junction block located in the lower, left cowl side. It is available in two feature levels-base and premium. It...

• controls all exterior lamps
• includes a Battery Saver feature that turns off exterior lamps left on for 10 minutes and extinguish courtesy lamps after 60 minutes. The automatic exterior light shut-off does not affect the headlamp time delay feature, which leaves the lights on for only 90 seconds.
• operates the manual HVAC system.
• provides control system diagnostics for the manual HVAC system. Diagnostic codes relating to malfunctions of the interface between temperature and mode controls on the instrument panel and door positions in the HVAC unit have been added. They are accessible through the data bus and may be shown on the instrument cluster odometer display.
• actuates and times electric rear window defogger (EBL) operation.
• locks all doors and arms the Vehicle Theft Alarm when any door is locked with the key. In addition it provide a choice of unlocking modes. Unlocking the drivers door with the key unlocks that door only. However, if the key is returned to the "neutral" position and again turned to the unlock position, all doors unlock. Unlocking the passenger door with the key immediately unlocks all doors
• operates the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) system. RKE, which was a stand-alone system, is now integrated into the BCM.
• If the windshield wipers are on when the ignition is switched off, it keeps the wiper motor running until the blades are in the park position
• provides trunk release logic that prevents inadvertent opening. The trunk release button on the instrument panel and the trunk button on the RKE will open the trunk only when the ignition is off (or the transmission is in Park), and the alarm is off
• provides customer-programmable rolling door locks. The Owner's Manual includes instructions for enabling or disabling the feature

Electrical Power Outlet

As shipped from the assembly plant, the outlet (cigarette lighter style) has power only when the ignition is on. By moving a fuse in the instrument panel fuse block, the outlet can have power at all times.

Intra-Vehicle Communications System

A new industry-standard intra-vehicle communications system (SAE J1850) is the means for on-board control modules to share information with each other and to provide plug-in testers with diagnostic information. Concorde and Intrepid are the first Chrysler vehicles to use this technology. J1850 provides the following advantages over the prior communications bus technology:

• Uses a single-wire bus rather than a twisted-pair of wires
• Transmits information between modules at 2 to 3 times the data rate
• Uses a more rugged transceiver circuit for improved reliability
• Provides the capability for immediate acknowledgment that the message was received by the intended receiver
• Allows one module to "wake-up" another module over the bus when the engine is not running, if required

Wiring System Improvements

New wiring features and their benefits are as follows:

• Optimized circuit partitioning and harness routing eliminated over 100 circuits and 8 splices to lower cost and improved reliability. Using vehicle architecture and feature availability information during design, circuits with balanced loads are devised
• Use of the new industry-standard J1850 vehicle communication and diagnostics bus eliminates 17 circuits and 8 "twisted-pairs" required with the former CCD system
• A new junction block eliminates over 35 circuits by providing direct, plug-in connections for the BCM, remote keyless entry (RKE) module, and daytime running lamp (DRL) module
• A snap-in panel on the left end of instrument panel provides access to the fuses and relays. Fuses are identified by diagram molded into the back of the snap-in panel
• A new power distribution center (PDC) provides mounting for micro-relays and F-type cartridge fuses which take less space than the components they replace, permitting the PDC to house substantially more components in a slightly larger package than in the past. (This is Chrysler's first use of F-type cartridge fuses.) PDC nomenclature is pad printed on the outside and inside of the cover using durable silicone ink. Outer nomenclature identifies the PDC and provides a warning of the presence of battery power at its external connectors. Inner nomenclature identifies the circuits and functions provided by the fuses and relays respectively
• Improved electrical grounding increases electrical system reliability. The 1998 Concorde and Intrepid use separate grounding paths for low-current circuits that carry electronic signals and high-current power circuits. This protects the signal circuits from extraneous signals that could adversely affect their operation. Threaded studs with nuts for attaching ground connections are welded to the body at strategic locations. Removing the nut from the stud prior to installing the ground terminals cleans the studs to assure a positive connection. Where multiple circuits are grounded to the same stud, the wires are welded to a single eyelet to increase reliability and reduce assembly complexity. If one of these wires has to be replaced, it can be cut at the eyelet and a separate terminal added

Improved Routing and Harness Protection

Wire harness durability and freedom from BSRs is enhanced through improved routing and protection that includes the following features:

• Expanded use of weld studs, clips, troughs, and foam tape protects wiring and keep it away from heat and damage
• Easily accessible positive and negative terminals for the remote-mounted battery facilitate assist starting (jumping). The remote positive terminal mounts behind the right headlight; the negative terminal mounts on the right strut tower

Resistive Multiplexing

Wiring capacity is enhanced through the use of resistors in series with switches on the same circuit to indicate by a voltage level which switch has been pressed. Resistive multiplexing has been added to the headlamp and dimmer switches. It is also used with the new central door locking switches, the manual HVAC control mode switch, the power lock, automatic speed control and windshield wiper switches.

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