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Battery okay but will no crank

Tiny
REDCRU777
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 3.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
Vehicle runs fine, but suddenly won't start yesterday. Battery is 100% but there no crank. Whenever you turn the ignition to start, you will hear click sound in the relay module underneath the dashboard. A tower was able to start it though when he put the gear on neutral, pushed it forward a bit, then backward, and started to start it, and it started in one try. When I drove the van home, I turned the engine off and tried to re-start the engine, the same thing happened, seems like there's no contact in the ignition switch to start the engine, but the relays make a click sound each time the ignition switch is turned to start the engine.

Please advise.

Thank you.


Rey
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Sunday, September 8th, 2019 AT 2:14 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like a problem with your vehicle's neutral safety switch. This is the switch that inhibits the starting circuit if your vehicle transmission range selector is in any position other than park or neutral. In the diagrams down below I have included the factory guide for the removal and installation of the Transmission Range Selector, which is what the neutral safety switch is called on your vehicle. Please go through this guide and get back to us with how everything turns out.

This guide can help as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Thanks,
Alex
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Monday, September 9th, 2019 AT 9:59 AM
Tiny
REDCRU777
  • MEMBER
  • 81 POSTS
Hi Alex,

Sorry for this late update, work was toxic.

Anyways, I haven't replaced the neutral switch yet, but will do as soon as possible.

For your information, I was able to start the engine this morning by hot-wiring the pins (on starter relay mounting in the engine compartment power center box) corresponding to the #30 and #87 pins on the starter relay, and the starter works great with just one click.

Does this mean that the ignition switch is faulty?

Please advise.

Many thanks.

Rey
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Monday, September 16th, 2019 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

Yes it does. It could also be circuit breaker PTC 10 which is located under the left front of the dash. Check this first and if it still doesn't start then the problem is going to be the ignition switch or the wiring from the battery to the relay. I have included a wiring diagram of your vehicle's starting circuit for reference in the diagrams down below. Please get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
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Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 AT 9:02 PM
Tiny
REDCRU777
  • MEMBER
  • 81 POSTS
Many thanks Alex for info reply.
I'll check this out and will keep you posted.

Best regards.

Rey
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Thursday, September 19th, 2019 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
REDCRU777
  • MEMBER
  • 81 POSTS
Hi Ken and Alex,

Sorry for this delayed update regarding my van, been out of town.
I haven't worked on this van yet, but my son did some clever temporary solution on the starter. He installed a push button starter which he wired to the #30 and #87 pins on the starter relay in engine compartment fuse/relay box.

So far it's working fine with this set up, at least temporarily while I haven't fixed the real problem yet.

By the way, do you have a diagram of the location of the circuit breaker PTC 10?

Once again, thanks a lot for your support.

Rey
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Monday, October 7th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

Okay, so the problem is going to be the switched power supply to the relay(Ignition Switch) or the ground from Pin 85 of the relay is bad. But since we have already established that the ignition switch is bad, this is going to be the problem. Would you like step by step instructions on how to remove and install a new ignition switch in your vehicle?

Thanks,
Alex
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Monday, October 7th, 2019 AT 9:26 PM
Tiny
REDCRU777
  • MEMBER
  • 81 POSTS
Thanks for this reply Alex.

Yes please, I would highly appreciate if you can provide me the instruction on how to replace the ignition switch specific to 1996 Grand Caravan.

Thanks a lot.

Rey
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Tuesday, October 8th, 2019 AT 7:56 AM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

Okay, I have included the directions in the diagrams down below. Please go through them and get back to us with how everything turns out.

Thanks,
Alex
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Tuesday, October 8th, 2019 AT 11:14 PM
Tiny
MARYCOOPERIS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
1996 Dodge Caravan 208000 miles

My van will crank but will not actually turn over UNLESS I open the hood and let it slam shut. It has been in and out of the repair shop more than 30 days and they say they can not find any thing.
I noticed this morning when closing the hood that it also resets my clock to 12:00 if that helps. Can you help me?
Mary
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Mary:
It sounds like a ground problem. Make sure all the grounds from the battery are clean and tight, the ground to the engine and body are clean and tight, and the connections to the starter are clean and tight.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMESTRA
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 346,785 MILES
I have no power no lights the van will not jump or start it wont turn over at all when the battery is hooked up I get sparks and a burning smell on the postive side as soon as I touch the cable to the battery on the postive side it sparks it ran just fine the day befor any suggestions on where to look or where to start looking thank james t
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
I would suspect a short
and the most common area to look is at around the exhaust and intake manifold and also check the starter big red wire from the starter to the battery
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Friday, October 18th, 2019 AT 3:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
REDCRU777
  • MEMBER
  • 81 POSTS
Hi Alex,

Just an update, I got the starter, it fixed it.

Many thanks for all the support!

Rey
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Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 AT 10:44 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 AT 12:39 PM
Tiny
DUDEWITHGUITAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 19,500 MILES
The car will not turn over with a fully charged battery. When I turn the ignition swith no load is drawn from the battery and wheather I leave the key in the ignitian or take it out I can hear the realy switchies going crazy. When I press the brake pedal it stops and when I let off they start clicking again.
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Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 AT 12:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Under the hood, there is a relay box. Open it and determine which relay is making the noise. Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 AT 12:53 PM (Merged)

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