1998 Dodge Caravan Occasionally won't start

Tiny
SKELLLLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 167,000 MILES
My van for some reason, about every 2 weeks, decides it doesn't want to start. If I leave it several hours, it'll crank just like nothing wrong. This happens when it's cold or hot, doesn't matter. I've jumped the starter cylanoid, and it turns over but will not crank. Like it's not getting fire coil. I've replace the ignition switch, start nuetral switch, tested the fuse link off the main fuse panel under the hood, changed all the relays. Mechanic told me it could be the alarm (anti-theft), but this van does not have an alarm system in it that I know of. There are no lights on the dash about one anyways.
Thursday, December 18th, 2008 AT 8:36 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,772 POSTS
Hi:
When it happens, you need to check if you are getting spark and fuel. One will most likely be missing.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Friday, December 19th, 2008 AT 11:54 PM
Tiny
SKELLLLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I tried to jump it, ran power to cylanoid on starter and hardwire the coil, still didn't do nothing except turn over, still won't crank. I also got my omh meter out and started testing, I have bad short somewhere, when I unplug the computer under the hood, it I lose the short?
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Saturday, December 20th, 2008 AT 7:53 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,772 POSTS
What were you checking when you noticed the short? What did you find?

Joe
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Saturday, December 20th, 2008 AT 1:53 PM
Tiny
SKELLLLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I was checking for a short. Fuse block under the hood was showing a short, so I started unplugging the wiring harness, testing again each time one was unplugged, to see if I could at least figure out which click had the short. Only one did, and it was the one that went to the computer beside it, the bottom plug. Does this mean my computer is shorting "sometimes"?
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Saturday, December 20th, 2008 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,772 POSTS
Hi:
It sounds that way. You may want to remove the computer and have it checked by an auto electric shop. That way you'll know for sure.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Saturday, December 20th, 2008 AT 8:10 PM

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