2002 caravan intermittent problem

Possibilities:

1. Bad battery. (Automotive electrical systems don't always follow the rules you learned in school. A bad battery [dead cells, all around dead, ...] can bollix up the entire system.) How old is it, and has anyone checked the fluid level (regardless of whether or not it claims to be "maintenance free")?
2. Bad connections where the cables connect to the battery. (A) If they're the clamp-onto-post kind, with age they can loosen up (=bad connection) and then oxidation gets inside (=bad connection). Too many people over-tighten battery cable clamps, thereby bending the clamps (hey, they're only lead) and removing the ability to tighten them anymore. You would need to remove them, clean (with that cheap inside/outside wire brush widget available at any parts place) both the clamps and the posts, spread the clamps back into shape and re-install tightening them enough but not too much. (Then you can coat them with grease to avoid future problems.) (B) If they're the screw-in type ("side terminal"), unscrew them, clean every contact point you can find, and re-install tightly (but not so tightly that you strip the screw threads). In either case, if they're not one-piece, solidly molded cables, replace them with *good* cables.
3. Bad connection where the battery cable connects to the starter motor.

The reason for the hard starting after a five minute wait is that, when warm, the oil drips down off the cylinder walls quickly and, at the same time, the parts are still expanded from heat, making a tighter fit. The combination makes it harder to start (i.e., demanding more from the battery) than when everything's cold (and loose).

I would check 3 things in particular

1) starter 2) ignition module in distributor 3) when was last tune up? if is 6 years old

The starter starts the engine, usually on the first turn. Doesn't quite sound like a starter problem at this point. The engine starts, but then stalls. It IS getting spark, or it would not start at all.

After several start-stall cycles, the engine no longer attempts tostart - which COULD point to the starter. But the starter would not cause the engine to stall. A short time later, the vehicle will start - and keep running!!!!!

The van has 68000KM on it. That is something like 42000 miles. Not due for a tuneup - and HAS had the fuel filter changed at least twice already.

The problem all started at the same time on Tuessday. Prior to Tuesday the van has been trouble free. The ignition switch was replaced on Thursday (shop could not get it to misbehave) and on Friday it acted up again.

** Posted from **

Well, not CERTAIN yet, but it reported a keyless entry / antitheft antenna error on Monday. Disconnected the module in the steering column and cleaned all connections with electronic contact/control cleaner and it has not misbehaved since. We'll give it a couple of days. Dad's on a bus trip so the shop has it 'till friday. They'll be driving it daily to see if it acts up.

Who'd a' thunk it?

** Posted from **

You are probably experiencing a skim key problem. Your gonna have to have a scan tool connected that will be able to pull fault codes from the vehicle theft module. Or if you have a spare key try that one

Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

The scan tool indicated a theft module antenna problem. What is a "skim key" problem, exactly?

** Posted from **

when the key does not sync with the module...it wont start and the third try will not allow the vehicle to start until it sits for an hour. find out what the exact code was