Engine starter not working?

Make sure the battery has a full charge and the connections are clean and tight. Next, check the charging system. Do you have a digital multimeter, so you can do some testing? If battery voltage is lost, the vehicle may not run well, because of idle relearn issue. Losing battery voltage can cause all kinds of issues, besides the battery being down.

Some of the national brand autostores will load-test and charge the battery for you. If your going to work on your own vehicles, at the least, you need a digital multimeter. As far as trying to charge off another battery, I don't know what to tell you?

If a new battery doesn't fix it, let us know. Some of the national brand autostores will check the charging system for you.

Hi JDL. Remember the "minimum throttle relearn"?

Oops. Forgot to mention, this has the Chrysler Engine Computer system.

Hey caradiodoc, have a good day.

AAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH! DO NOT REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING! That is a real easy way to destroy many of the computers. That was a trick done many years ago by mechanics who didn't understand how charging systems work, but those cars didn't have computers. Without the battery to help the voltage regulator hold system voltage down, if you speed up the engine, it is real easy for system voltage to go well over 30 volts.

Use a voltmeter to test the charging system. With the engine running, battery voltage must be between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it is, the system is working.

Your original problem was simply caused by running the battery dead. The Engine Computer lost its memory, and until it relearns "minimum throttle", the idle speed will be too low which is what you described. The new battery didn't fix the problem. The fix was to drive it at highway speed with the engine warmed up, then coast for at least seven seconds without touching the brake or gas pedals. At that point the Engine Computer takes a reading from the throttle position sensor and puts it in memory. From then on, any time it sees that same voltage, it knows your foot is off the gas pedal and it has to be in control of idle speed.

Even without voltmeter abilities,

"Auto Zone" and "Advance Auto" both have a little meter that has LED lights on it (I even "had" one, for my wife's rig, I was gonna snap a pic and post it, however, she just told me she lent it to one of her employees, months ago.I reckon I need to go shopping. They're not but a few bucks!

The way you use it is Vehicle OFF touch it to the battery terminals and it will indicate whether your battery is Charged or not. Red or green light

Then you crank it and touch the terminals, it will display your alternator output, red, yellow or green as far as how well it is charging.

Probably a decent investment at less than $10

It was gray in color and maybe 1" X 1-1/2" X 4". With 2 short leads, and 5 or 6 LEDs on the front

Sorta primitive, but some people need something compact/ durable/ fool proof/ and also "doubles" as a useful gift for an employee!

The Medic

You need to add some punctuation so I know how to read what you wrote. I did figure out you jumped something to cause the starter to work but you didn't say what you jumped. You also didn't include any symptoms. There are a lot of different problems in a number of different circuits that will cause many different symptoms. Do you hear light clicks from relays? A single loud clunk from the starter? Does "ignition wont allow car to crank with the key" mean the ignition switch won't turn?

Want to sell it? LOL just kidding. Check your battery connections first make sure they're not corroded.
Second check your ground wire, maake sure it's clean.
Third make sure your starter looks clean where it it's connected to your block. That is your other ground.