05 Caravan won't start then Poof - it starts!

[AFFlyer]

Hello all,
Thanks for taking a look at this problem with me. I went out on the morning of 26th and our 2005 caravan 3.3 liter wouldn’t start. It turned over just fine, but not one cylinder was firing. So I figured I’d try a little troubleshooting myself before calling the Dodge shop for a tow in repair. After disconnecting the intake hose I opened the butterfly valve, (throttle) and shot about 2 seconds worth of starting fluid into the intake. Then I told my wife to try it, still nothing. It was turning over just fine, but still no ignition. So I kind of figured that since I provided a fuel source that the problem was spark related. This of course opens up a whole world of possibilities. Before I went on to the next phase of troubleshooting, I took note of something peculiar, namely condensation. Everything under the hood seemed to be covered in a glistening coat of H20. The reason I think was that the day before, the 25th Christmas, the temperature was about 15 degrees. The next day, the 26th, the temperature shot up to an incredible 52 degrees, and all the snow started melting like crazy. Plus the humidity was really something. So in light of that I broke out the hair dryer and tried to dry out the coil packs on top of the distributor. Even though I got it good and dry, the van still wouldn’t start. So I had to bite the bullet and call the tow truck and have the van towed to the Dodge shop. Well, they couldn’t work it in for 24 hours, but when they did the mechanic immediately pulls a spark plug and says “these plugs are fouled and need replacing”. So they replace all 6 plugs and low and behold the van starts. “Great” I think, that wasn’t the problem! The reason the plugs are covered with gas is from trying to start the silly thing. I don’t think a van typically arrives home on one night running fine and then fouls all 6 plugs overnight and refuses to start the next morning. But that’s the conclusion the dealer came to. It’s been running fine since I picked it up, but I have a feeling that the phantom in the engine will return someday when I least want it. Can anyone offer any advice and or suggestions as to what the gremlin was and why? Thanks so much. - Tom

[headrush]

No advice, but a wet plug is not a fouled plug. A fouled plug has a coating of carbon covering the ceramic cone which shorts the tip of the plug to the body. This is fairly common on 2 stroke engines. I don't think I've ever heard of a fouled plug in a car engine (but I'm not a mechanic).

I don't see any reason a wet plug wouldn't fire if there was spark. The fluid could potentially short the plug but there should be enough current going through the fuel to ignite it.

In my humble opinion you just can't trust mechanics. What did you pay for the plugs? They may have found something very simple, or maybe jiggled a few things or maybe something dried out and then it started. Then they needed to make a little money so they gave you new plugs.

I had a truck that wouldn't start for 10 minutes whenever I cleaned the engine at the car wash. The heat of the engine from driving to the car wash would drive off the water and then bingo, it would start. It always scared me, but it was a reliable process.

[AFFlyer]

Thanks for the reply, yeah I doubt it was the plugs as well. But if it happens again I'll say,"Look, you already replaced the plugs and fixed it didn't you?" Kind of just to rub it in. Oh well, these days it seems that you have to be an expert on everything, or you'll get taken. - Tom

[oldmoparguy1]

It was your wet plug wires. Van sat at the dealers for 24 hours and dried out. I had the identical situation a few weeks ago with my Caravan. Left the hood open and took the wifes GC. Later that afternoon, after everything had dried out it cranked right up. Probably didn't need new plugs.:bawl:

[AFFlyer]

I knew it was something to do with moisture. Thanks for the info. - Tom