Car won't start when temp drops.

Sounds to me like your starter solenoid contacts are shot. The jumper your mechanic put in bypasses several things in the string of things required to goose the starter - one of those things it bypasses is the solenoid.

The Denso/Nippondenso starters that Chrysler uses in a lot of its vehicles is known for this problem after some age/wear (starter operation becomes intermittent and/or temperature dependent due to worn solenoid contacts). Do a search - you can buy new contacts. A lot cheaper than a new starter/solenoid, which is what many places would try to sell you.

Oh - wait a minute - here's where I bought a new solenoid/plunger set for the starter solenoid in my '98 Concorde with Denso starter:

www.partsamerica is the parent company for regional parts stores Advance, Schucks, Kragen, Checker, and Murray's. Be aware though that the local stores don't stock and can't order this particular part (at least not my local Advance store) - you have to order off the partsamerica web site.

Same kit fits your Voyager. $13 plus shipping.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Obviously he is bypassing the Neutral Safety switch in the transmission. Have some who knows what they are doing take at look at the switch and fix it

Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

Glenn - Do we know that both the neutral switch and the solenoid contacts weren't bypasss with that one wire? Is not the behavior more like solenoid contacts?

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

If the contacts in the starter were the problem..... running a hot wire from B+ to the starter contact would still not allow the engine to start because the contacts are no good. . If the starter motor/contacts and the battery were good all he needs to do is run a wire from B+ to the starter solenoid to by pass the NSS. Plus the OP mentioned nothing about the Technician checking the NSS. That was just my opinion.

Glenn

My point was that maybe he bypassed the solenoid too - went straight from battery to the solenoid *output*/starter input (bypassing the solenoid contacts).

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Would a mechanic have bypassed the solenoid? He'd need a pretty hefty wire to do that.

I'd suspect that if it's an automatic, it's one of the interlocks. If it's the neutral switch interlock, put the car in neutral when it won't start instead of Park and see if that works. Also, when it doesn't start, try moving the transmission shift lever and see if that starts it.

Hmm, did anyone install any aftermarket security hardware? You could have a bad connection there or a bad relay.

Mike

Hi...

That scenario should be easily identified by the gauge of wire used :)

Take care.

Ken

Yep. Mike and Glenn are probably right.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

It's just your starter solenoid not working. It may be the contacts, as somebody suggested, but it could also be the thickening up of some lube in the starter itself, making it hard to move.

Ah oh!

Neutral switch: 2 votes Solenoid contacts: 2 votes.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')