Erratic engine starting

Tiny
DANIELBUGS
  • MEMBER
  • 2016 DODGE CARAVAN
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 3,000 MILES
We purchased a new van on December 22 of 2015 from Baxter Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep here in Lincoln with the intention of having it modified to be handicapped accessible by Heartland Mobility of Omaha. We got the modified vehicle back on February 18 of 2016. Since then, the engine has refused to start erratically. It might start fine in the morning, so we drive it to one of my doctor's appointments and then it fails to start when we want to go home. And, when that happens, it might start with the remote starter instead of the key or neither might work. We used up all of our AAA towing benefits last year. Beginning on January 9th of 2017, we have taken it both to the Baxter service center and to Heartland Mobility to be repaired and neither of them have been able to fix it. For some reason, during the last two months, my wife has been going out to the garage and starting the engine every day. I cannot explain why, but it has started every day during this time. Our vehicle has less than 3,000 miles on its odometer.

When it was modified to be accessible, that work was done by Braunability They do a tremendous amount of work on the vehicle during that process.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Saturday, April 7th, 2018 AT 6:45 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
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Oh yes, they take the car apart pretty much. Can I ask a couple questions? First the engine not cranking or cranking over and not starting? Next when the van is having trouble does the security light flash?

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, April 9th, 2018 AT 11:44 AM
Tiny
DANIELBUGS
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Hi Ken, when this happens, the engine is cranking over by the starter but ignition does not happen. The dash lights do come on. Is that what you mean by the security light or is that a specific light that we should watch for?
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Monday, April 9th, 2018 AT 1:36 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, the security light should be a red lock blinking if the security is enabled. When you are cranking it over does this light blink? Only when the engine does not start it will not blink if the engine starts.
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Monday, April 9th, 2018 AT 4:04 PM
Tiny
DANIELBUGS
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We will have to check to see if it blinks or not.
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Monday, April 9th, 2018 AT 4:29 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Makes a big difference in troubleshooting the problem that is why I need to know.
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Tuesday, April 10th, 2018 AT 10:22 AM
Tiny
DANIELBUGS
  • MEMBER
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Hi Ken The strange thing is that since my wife has been starting and driving it every day, it has started every time. We are glad that it is starting now, but does it make any sense to you that this is helping to make it start or have we just gotten lucky?
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Wednesday, April 11th, 2018 AT 12:41 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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It could be a couple things first is bad gas rolling around int he tank which you could have cycled through or the computer area network had issues it needed to short through learning procedures etc. So are any warning lights on?
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Wednesday, April 11th, 2018 AT 6:55 PM

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