Jeep Cherokee & Dodge Caravan

Question: Jeep Cherokee; Home For Retired Mice

Hi Vincent, I was surfing the web looking for info and hopefully pictures to help me with my problem with my 2001 Jeep Cherokee. A few weeks ago, I started my Jeep to run errands and I heard a loud grinding sound when I turned on the blower to get the heat going. Well the grinding sound was corn kernels and nuts that a mouse or mice had stashed inside the blower housing. I found this out as the kernels and nuts started blowing out onto my feet.

The way they constructed the 2001 Cherokee, you have to discharge the A/C unit and remove some parts to access the blower motor. If I could see where the mice are entering, I could probably make some kind of screen to permit air to enter and keep the varmints out. I think I got the blower housing emptied by running on high and tapping it with a rubber mallet as I had my Shop-Vac hose stuffed in the floor outlet.

A couple of local people told me to use either dryer sheet or Irish Spring soap to keep them from returning. I am using both in the engine compartment and the interior to try to avoid any major damage. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

P.W. Smith

Answer:

The air intake is under the windshield cowl. If you remove the cowl you can rig up a piece of window screen to cover it. The screen will allow air to enter unimpeded and keep the little varmints out. I would suggest using steel or aluminum screen and not the cloth screen.

I found by taking old socks with some small holes and putting mothballs in them is an effective way to keep the critters out. I would put them all about the engine compartment since they also find wire insulation to be quite a tasty treat.

Question: Dodge Caravan Check Gauges Light

Hello, I have a 1992 Dodge Caravan with the following problem. The check gauges light stays on and the gauges do not work. Also the instrument cluster lights do not come on. I checked the fuse (loc 15) and it is okay. There is voltage on both sides of the fuse. Any idea where else to look?

Thank You,

Mike Basta

Answer:

I would need to know if you have a mechanical or electronic instrument cluster in the vehicle so all I can do is offer this possibility, which is probably the most likely. If you have a mechanical cluster and ALL of the warning lamps come on and NONE of the gauges operate, the cluster PC board is locked up and will need to be replaced.

An electronic instrument cluster or the Body Control Module could be bad. There are special test procedures for these.

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