2000 Dodge Caravan Just shuts down

JACK MARSHAL

MEMBER
2000 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
93,000 MILES

My wife started the van and let it idle while she was on the phone. It ran for 1 min. And then just turned off. She restarted it and it ran again for another min. And just shut off. Then it would not restart. The radio and lights would come on but it would not even turn over. No engine sound when she would turn the key. I got there 30 min. Later and it started right up with no problem. I could not reproduce the problem. Three days later when she turned on the A/C it started to stutter. She turned off the A/C and it was fine again. Then a few minutes later with the A/C off the van just quit again. I tried to restart it but it would not even turn over. After a few minutes it started up again. Do I have a faulty ground or maybe a bad ignition switch? Thanks for your help.

3 Replies

BMRFIXIT

MECHANIC
19,053 POSTS

Remove battery terminals, clean and tighten
Check, charging system and ignition switch

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019 AT 2:49 PM

TOBY1437

MEMBER
5 POSTS

I had this problem for almost a year.

The reason it does not start after the 3rd try is because the manufacturer alarm sytem engages. ( Grab a lunch you could be stuck anywhere from an hour to a day!)

Turn key to the "on" position; if green led mileage and PRNDL do not light up, turn "off" and smack the plastic on the instrument panel and turn "on" again. They may light based on the severity of the problem.

REGARDLESS: Before you spend $700 plus on a BCM or some other computer the dealer recommends, try this.

96 to 2000 Caravans, Town & Countries and others notoriously have bad solders on the back of the instrument panel and 95% of the time this is what is causing the intermittent problem.

FIX: Remove the instrument panel it's a little tricky but take your time. On the back of the panel there is a red connector with several wires soldered to it. These are cracked! (I needed a magnifying for mine) Have them cleaned up and resoldered. You can have the rest of the solders checked, but these should be you problem. GOOD LUCK!