1998 Dodge Grand Caravan No Start

DODGE CARAVAN
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RHOFMANN2
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1998 Grand Caravan, 112K miles. Intermittently I'll go to start my van and the dash lights, mileage reading, gauges, etc. will not work. Vehicle will then start for about 2 seconds and kill. Repeat starting for 5 times (vehicle killing after 2 seconds each time), then engine will not turn over at all. Dealer has checked battery, connections, computer, etc. No codes apparently. After vehicle sets for about a day, all works fine. This issue happen about once a week. I'm tempted to replace computer, but was hoping for a bit more guidance...
Apr 20, 2006 at 1:29 AM
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LOSONE
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The dealer over-looked a bad ground connection. Remove and clean both battery terminals. remove and clean the engine ground, the ground from the engine to the chassis, engine ground from the engine to the firewall. Don't look at it remove and clean the connections. It is a classic ground (lack of) problem. The tech at the dealership just didn't know electrical basics.Good luck
Apr 20, 2006 at 1:34 AM
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RHOFMANN2
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Dealer cleaned battery terminals, supposedly cleaned all ground connections. Worked for about 1 week, then same thing. Replace all ground cables?
May 5, 2006 at 7:09 AM
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LOSONE
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  • 1,616 POSTS
They probably didn't remove the ones on the engine--
May 5, 2006 at 8:38 AM
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HORACEMAC
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Hi,
By accident, I discovered that the kill circuit for the 1997 Caravan is located in the Left rear Quarter panel inside compartment. In order to get to it, you must remove the Left rear seatbelt anchor bolt, the plastic panels in the left rear quadrant at the rear door & reach into the opening, usually covered by a clear plastic sheet with black goo (which has probably fallen down if your vehicle has been exposed to hot weather). The black plastic connector anchored to the body metal that has what appears to be a jumper plug installed (OR there may be a remote disable module plugged into the connector) is actually the disable connector. There is no cable departing this connector.
IF the connections in this plug have become corroded, this is probably where your problem is. I know that if you unplug this connector, you CANNOT start your vehicle!
If the problem is here, your best bet is to get someone who knows how to clean/ repair this type of connector, OR Take this info to your repair / dealer to follow up on your problem.
GOOD LUCK,
Horace
May 19, 2006 at 4:11 PM

Suggested Repair

Remove and thoroughly clean both battery terminals and all engine grounds, including the engine-to-chassis and engine-to-firewall connections; do not merely inspect them. If the fault returns, have the rear-quarter disable connector inspected and cleaned or repaired, since corrosion there can prevent starting.

Conversation Summary

A 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan intermittently loses dash lights and gauges, starts for about two seconds, then dies; after several attempts it will not crank until it sits for about a day. The dealer found no codes and cleaning the battery terminals and some grounds only helped briefly. An expert said the engine grounds were likely not removed and cleaned. Another contributor identified a disable connector in the left rear quarter panel that can cause a no-start if corroded.

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