2002 Dodge Caravan

Looking for info on why a 2002 Dodge Caravan Sport le would not turn over. When I turn the ignition all of the lights turn on but the engine fails to crank. This van has the 3.3 litre engine in it. Has anyone seen this before? Please help. If possible please respond to post and email to snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com

Reply to
Dan
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Assuming that the battery and terminals are good, the next time you try it listen for a click under the hood when you crank it. More then likely the contacts in the starter are shot. replace the starter if it clicks but will not kick over.

Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

Reply to
maxpower

Can I use the trick of grounding the starter to see if it turns over. I believe my problem is one of three things. Either the Battery, starter, or ignition switch. Do you agree? I know the battery is good. Is there a way besides the one mentioned above to isolate the problem?

Reply to
Dan

Took a chance that this was your email address listed on Gmail auto message board. I am the one with the caravan that will not start. Did you get my message asking whether I should ground the starter or not? Dan I reply to so many threads I normally dont answer e mails because the original post is not with your e mail. If the starter is bolted to the engine it is grounded as long as the ground wire is attached and secure. If this is the post I replied to about the starter contacts try tapping on the starter while someone try's to start the engine, I bet it cranks.

Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

Reply to
maxpower

It did not crank. There was no clicking sound when the ignition was cranked. I measured 13 volts at the battery. When I cranked it the volts dropped to 11.5. I went under the van and located the starter. I tapped on it. Still nothing. I was unable to touch the positive to the negative to see if I could get the stater to turn. This is because on this vehicle, the starter has a negative post and a plug for the positive side. I used my meter and put one lead into the plug and one onto the neg connector. When the engine was cranked I did not get any voltage on my meter. I believe this is an indication that no power is getting to the starter due to a bad electrical part in the system. Any guesses on this, based on the new information? I am thinking starter relay or ignition switch. Would you get a check engine light if the starter relay was bad?

Reply to
Dan

you need to see if you have battery voltage at the terninal at the starter, the one with the nut on it. if you do, then you need to see if you have 12 volts on the starter solonoid connector, this is also on the starter. The small black connector. If you have nothing at the black connector when someone tries to start it you need to check fuses and neutral safety switch.

You have to tap on the starter as someone is trying to crank it or you arent doing anything at all. I have no idea what you mean by touching positive to negative, but its not a good idea to short out the battery!! And I have no idea where you put the volt meter, sorry makes no sense to me.

I went under the van and located the starter.

Reply to
maxpower

I really appreciate your help. I am sorry I am a little confusing. I did tap on the starter when we were trying to crank and still nothing. If you remember older cars the starter had two posts on the top. One was the positive and one was the negative. If the vehicle would not start and you suspected the ignition switch you could use a screwdriver and short across those two posts with the ignition switch on the starter would spin. Essentially, you were completing the same circuit that is completed when you turn the ignition switch. If the starter did not engage than you had a bad starter. That is what I am referring to. I thought this was a fairly common troubleshooting trick. I had no volts at the starter terminal so I am fairly sure we have a relay or fuse problem. It is going into the shop today. Thank you very much for your help. Dan

Reply to
Dan

Sorry to say Dan but your wrong, that starter system is very easy, the wire that goes to the starter is direct feed to the battery, if you do not have

12volts at that main wire ,trace it back to the battery, either the battery is bad, or a loose connection at the battery + terminal or a faulty wire.

And by the way, you really did give your age away with that trick to short out the starter solenoid if you are referring to a Chrysler product.

Reply to
maxpower

Did you try pounding on the driverside dashboard infront of the message center? I have a 1998 with a similar sounding problem and read on one of these posts that there is a bad connection in the instrument cluster circuit board. If you give the dash one good thump mine will then start. Others have reported the same.

Reply to
john153

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