Van would not start. Battery appeared weak. Had vehicle towed to dealer. Service department stated that the positive battery cable had corroded through, about 6 inches down from terminal clamp. No outside indication of serious cable corrosion. Concern is that the van gave no indication of a problem up until the time it would not start. If the cable had failed while driving we could of experienced loss of electrical power, and loss of engine power, leading to loss of control of vehicle. Service repair department stated that they are repairing several of these cable per year, at least on the 1999 model vans. Service departement also stated that the wiring design had been changed due to the high cost to replace positive battery cable (quoted as being $720) as it is part of the main wiring harness as well as starting system. I believe this is a potential defect that should be repaired by Chrysler. In over 40 years of motor vehicle associated activities I have never heard or seen a battery cable itself that has corroded. I have seen corrosion on a cable next to the old style terminal clamps (e.g., made out of lead) but not to the cable itself. It appears to be some kind of galvanic corrosion as it is only the positive battery terminal that exhibits corrosion. The positive battery cable terminal clamp is made out of a different metal than the negative battery cable terminal clamp.

- Arvada, CO, USA