Van shuts off

2005 DODGE CARAVAN
100,000 MILES • 3.8L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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MOGARNER70
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
We recently bought my daughter the van listed above. The van was parked for a couple of months in the back yard and once we tried to start it, it wouldn’t start. Had the battery checked, it’s fine. So we replaced the alternator. We jumped the van and drove it around the block and the lights started flickering and the gages were bouncing then the van just shut off. Wouldn’t turn over, had to jump it. Any ideas as to what’s wrong?
May 6, 2021 at 9:31 AM
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KASEKENNY
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 18,907 POSTS
When you say you had the battery checked, was it load tested? Sounds like the battery has a shorted cell in it.

If the engine will start and run by jump starting, but have electrical issues then this sounds like a battery issue.

Here is a guide that will show how to load test this battery:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Let me know if you had this performed and if nothing else, I would replace the battery just to completely eliminate this as the cause as I am pretty sure it is a battery issue.
May 7, 2021 at 1:26 PM
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