Tontar

I have a 2002 Grand Cherokee, and today the parking lights started flashing while sitting in the driveway. Could have started last night for all I know. But I can't get them to stop. I unlock and lock using the fob, and that doesn't stop them for more than a few seconds, then they start up again.

I've tried turning the flashers on, and that overrides the anomalous flashing pattern, and the emergency flashers work as they should. I turn off the emergency flashers, and the lights go back to an odd flashing pattern. Two and a half blinks, pause, three and a half blinks, then pause, two and a half blinks, then pause.

I've also tried locking and unlocking the driver's side door, and still they flash. I don't have a tailgate lock tumbler to try.

The vehicle starts and runs, so it is not the SKIM issue, this time at least.

I can let them run the battery down, or I can disconnect the battery and see if that resets whatever the issue is. I can try that, but I wanted to know what the issue was first. I have called a couple of Jeep dealers, one was baffled, and the other is a huge pain in the butt. I either get a voicemail or a person who swears they will have service call me back. They never do. I'll never buy a car form them, they are the worst.

I just want to know what the issue is hat would cause the parking lights to flash. Anyone have any clues?

dave1123

What that's telling you is someone attempted to steal the vehicle or the computer thinks so. Have you tried setting the alarm with the fob, then turning it off? It could be a faulty door switch.

Normally, if the alarm goes off, it will cycle off in 15 minutes, then go to the lights flashing mode.

Tontar

Thanks for the response. Using the fob was my first try. I keep the Jeep locked in the driveway, nobody attempted to break into it to the best of my knowledge, and the horn never started honking. I was outside and glanced over to see the parking lights flashing, which was odd. Never had that happen before.

So I got the fob, unlocked it, and the flashing stopped for a short time. Not long, maybe a minute at most. It started flashing again. I locked it, unlocked it, back and forth, and while that would stop the flashing for maybe 30 seconds, it would start right back up again. I opened and closed all the doors, thinking that maybe it thought one was open, went through the same lock and unlock cycles, and still the flashing persisted.

I flipped the emergency flashers on and off a few times early on, and that didn't help. The emergency flashers had a different flash pattern, which was different, normal, while without the emergency flashers on the pattern was more like a code. Non rhythmic flashing. Like two and a half flashes, pause, three and a half flashes, then pause, then back to two and a half flashes, pause. Like it was signaling some code.

There's only one physical keyhole on the rig, the driver's door. Not one on the passenger side, not one on the hatch back. So I also did the manual unlock, lock, unlock, relock. Same results. It stops for a few moments then resumes the flashing.

I called a number of Jeep dealers to speak with their service dept, but that was zero help. Yesterday the battery had been drained enough that the car would not start. It'd turn over, but was too drained to start. The flashing was stopped by then. My plan now is to charge the battery up again and see what happens. I was going to disconnect the battery and ground out the positive cable to try to reset the PCM (computer), but I was too busy at the time so I ended up letting the battery drain down over night. Hopefully if it is a situation where the PCM losing power will reset it, that will have been accomplished.

If the computer thinks that it was being stolen, and so the lights were flashing, I don't know why it would not reset with the fob cycling. I even started it up a couple of times, drove it back and forth in the driveway to see if that would help, but it didn't. So it doesn't seem to be SKIM related. So I'm at a loss as to what might have been causing it, and then what a solution would be. I'll charge it up again today and see if the issue has stopped.

tony270

The way that I see it is the flasher unit is working, the fuses are good, then I would concentrate on the two multi function switches that the indicator (blinker) lever is attached to at the steering colum, it use to be called a signal cam, lol. I would also inspect the wire and connections..

tony270

If you decide to work on this yourself, get a manual and follow the safety precautions pertaining to the Air Bag, the electrical systems needs to be denergized to become safe, the Air Bag can kill you.

dave1123

The column cover is held on by one screw on the bottom and snap clips on the side. It can be removed without messing with the steering wheel. The multi-function switch is mounted with 2 screws, on some models they are torx.

JMHO, but I doubt the switch has anything to do with the problem. It originates with the BCM getting erroneous information.

tony270

I have learned that these unimportant circuit that run through these modules are not control by them, the only way most can power up something like a light is through a meltdown per say. IMO failures like this are usually associated with switches, light fixture that are shorted to ground, open ground, etc. I always keep in mind that these circuits are protected by fused links, fuses, and breakers.

dave1123

Tony, keep in mind there are actually 2 completely different systems in today's cars. One is a 5 volt digital circuit and the other a 12 volt supply circuit. The modules control 12 volt devises by grounding them thru drivers. For instance, the fuel injectors are supplied by a constant 12 volts and are grounded by the PCM in sequence when fuel is needed for that cylinder. Likewise, the ignition coils are hot all the time and the PCM UNgrounds them when a spark is needed. A module can only control 12 volts by using a digital driver. The BCM controls the interior lights and the fade-out is done by discharging a capacitor.

Nipster

I hope you figured out your issue with the park lights flashing randomly, as it's a couple years after original post. My neighbor just had similar issues and I told him to check his key fobs. Sure enough, one of the unlock or lock buttons was stuck in the on or depressed position. Took batteries out of both and blinking park lights stopped. I've replaced my key fobs with parts from Ebay because of buttons sticking. Hope this helps someone.