2002 Dodge Caravan Van won't start

Tiny
ROXIEFT
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 18,500 MILES
A month ago we found that our van would not start (in our garage). We found that the oil was very low almost nothing, and it was very dirty. We placed some oil in it and the Van started. The next morning it started and we took it in for a complete oil change, filter change. The Low Oil warning light never came on so we did not realize it was leaking. The ABS light has come on from time to time for a year. Anywayk, we have be driving it for over a month now. My husband checked the oil a few days ago and said it was good. I do not drive the Van everyday as I work from home. A couple of days ago the Van did not want to start at my mom's house. But it eventually did after about 5 minutes. I drove it to my home around the block and parked it in the garage.
The next day it would not start. All the warning lights come on even the oil lamp warning light, the ABC and Check Engine light. I checked the oil and it was a bit low but not to the minimum. I put more oil, but it still does not start. DO YOU THINK THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE LOW TO NO OIL AND DIRTY OIL SITUATION THAT HAPPENED A MONTH AGO? Could that have caused damage to the engine even though it drove great for a month? Thanks
Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 12:05 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
I would suspect battery or starter
and need to be checked
low oil should not effect the starting of the engine
try and get a jump
also check and make sure battery terminals clean and tight
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 9:01 PM
Tiny
ROXIEFT
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  • 4 POSTS
I know it's not my battery because I have a battery tester and the battery is about 60-65%. It's fairly new too.
The reason I thought it was related to the oil issue was because the car wouldn't start when it had basically very little oil, and as soon as we placed a bottle of oil it started. Now it won't start again, and I just wondered if it had to do with the oil again. But it drove for a month just fine.
The engine doesn't turn either. No sound at all. Just lights up. It does have an oil leak.

Thanks
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 9:49 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Low oil should not effect the starting of the van
if you have what we call a flat spot on the starter it may do it as the engine may start and starter until you hit that flat spot and no start
try to move the shifter from park to neutral N check if it start
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 10:16 PM
Tiny
ROXIEFT
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Okay! I did what you said and the Van actually started in Neutral! Awesome! Does that mean it is almost 100% the "Starter"?

Thanks so much!

Roxie
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 11:01 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
It means one out of three
1. Selector need adjustment it was not all the way in the park
2. Neutral safety switch is defective (very unlikely )
3. Bad starter
in this order
I suggest having it checked
good luck
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 11:06 PM
Tiny
ROXIEFT
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Okay, so now it's starting again in Park. So thta other day when I parked it at my mom's house it did not start right away, then started after a few minutes of trying. Then didn't start at all. Now started in Neural only. Now starts in Park again. Wow, this is crazy. I guess it's probably a bad starter but I will have the mechanic check it in the order you wrote.

Thanks
roxie
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 11:20 PM

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