pinkcrouch
08-23-2007, 11:22 AM
I have a 2003 3.3L Caravan. The other day, I stopped to get gas, got back in, and it wouldn't start. It wouldn't even turn over, although all interior and dash lights were working. I tried jumping it (although it didn't seem like a dead battery), and got nothing. I started checking fuses, and even swapped the starter relay with a few of the other identical ones, and still nothing. When I turned the key to start, I heard the relay clicking, so I knew the ignition switch is good, but I didn't hear any clicking on the starter. So I put a new starter on it, but that didn't fix it either.
I towed it home, and started checking wires. Everything to my starter is hot, except the energizer wirer to the starter isn't getting juice. I ran a hot wire directly to this energizer plug on the starter, and it turns over, but the engine won't catch. It acts as if there's an open connection somewhere that's keeping it from catching. Also, when I turn the key on, I don't hear the fuel pump priming.
So I pulled the computer and ran around asking questions, thinking that had to be the problem. I was led to believe it wasn't, due to the fact that the relay wouldn't click if something in the computer was telling the van not to start. So I put it back in, hooked the battery back up, and started checking wires with a voltmeter. I left the key in the on position for 5-10 mins while I was determining my next course of action, when I hear 2 or 3 clicks right around the fuse box and computer. I tried starting it after the clicks, and it fired right up. I restarted it about 10 times due to the confusion, and it continually worked. I drove it about 10 miles, tried it again 30 minutes later, and I'm back to square one.
My question is, does anyone know what clicked and reset itself, or what switch could have closed just from it sitting there doing nothing. I tried recreating my original fix by unhooking the battery for 30 minutes, hooking it back up, and leaving the key on. As of now, it hasn't "reset" again.
I have no idea where to go from here. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I towed it home, and started checking wires. Everything to my starter is hot, except the energizer wirer to the starter isn't getting juice. I ran a hot wire directly to this energizer plug on the starter, and it turns over, but the engine won't catch. It acts as if there's an open connection somewhere that's keeping it from catching. Also, when I turn the key on, I don't hear the fuel pump priming.
So I pulled the computer and ran around asking questions, thinking that had to be the problem. I was led to believe it wasn't, due to the fact that the relay wouldn't click if something in the computer was telling the van not to start. So I put it back in, hooked the battery back up, and started checking wires with a voltmeter. I left the key in the on position for 5-10 mins while I was determining my next course of action, when I hear 2 or 3 clicks right around the fuse box and computer. I tried starting it after the clicks, and it fired right up. I restarted it about 10 times due to the confusion, and it continually worked. I drove it about 10 miles, tried it again 30 minutes later, and I'm back to square one.
My question is, does anyone know what clicked and reset itself, or what switch could have closed just from it sitting there doing nothing. I tried recreating my original fix by unhooking the battery for 30 minutes, hooking it back up, and leaving the key on. As of now, it hasn't "reset" again.
I have no idea where to go from here. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.