Car problems...any advice ?

[durango46]

2001 Dodge Grand Caravan

won't start......nothing.

So far my mechanic has replaced the battery and starter.

What next ?

[Eastside Terp]

good luck ......

have a 1996 DGC with almost 200k miles on it but when that happened it was the starter (although I also changed out the starter switch another time) ......

lots of good web sites dedicated to those vans that helped me fix a lot of problems......

some type of relay or module? do you have an alarm? .....

good luck ....

[wadeless28]

Take it to Cook Automotive. They will check it out for free!!!!

[Snoopy71]

take it to cook automotive. They will check it out for free!!!! :d

lol!!!!

[VdubbauVW]

ignition. My Honda just cut out one day driving across the Hanover St Bridge. Couldnt get it to do anything...needed a new ignition because I use to carry a boatload of keys on my car keys and the weight messed up the ignition.

[WKDWZD]

2001 Dodge Grand Caravan

won't start......nothing.

So far my mechanic has replaced the battery and starter.

What next ?

Did he test the battery before he changed it? If you have absolutely nothing then you need to check the electrics, solenoid, fuses etc. before you go changing bits willy-nilly.

[Diego]

Try turning the key

Oh, and put some gasoline in the tank

[sptsnt00]

When you say "nothing", does that mean when you turn the key, nothing at all happens? No clicks, no engine cranking, no sound at all?

If the engine cranks, but won't start, there's always making sure there's fuel, air, and fire. Could be a fuel pump (if you turn the key to on, have someone stand near the gas tank and listen for the pump), or some ignition module. (crank position sensor is common)

If nothing is happening, it's power through the ignition switch starting circuit somewhere. VDUB was right on with a possible ignition switch issue.

[banner1124]

Does it crank and not turn over?

I have owned quite a few dodge vans and I've had more than my fair share of ignition coils go bad on them

[ajc54terp]

Being a dodge, I'd get as much as you can for it and buy a honda..

[durango46]

when I turn the key.........nothing....no clicking, it doesn't try and turn over in anyway. All lights come on and work fine.

new battery
new starter
tuneup
no problem with ignition (mechanic checked it)
tried fuses
coil



our mechanic is at a loss....He ran a diagnostics check on it and it shows nothing. He did manage to get it started by resetting something. Runs fine when it starts.
I don't know much about cars but I'm already over $500 bucks into this.

In driving it back home from the mechanics I did hear a bing like something was wrong. That's when I noticed the check engine hasn't come on in quite sometime. ?????


dealer next ?

[Eastside Terp]

neutral safety switch on transmission, starter relay, security system? ......

google these and see if any thing sound familiar .......

[Saticon3]

I'm no car expert either, I used to tinker back in the days before all the electronics and computerization.... but anyway, I have a 2002 Dodge B 3500 Ram Van that suddenly just quit, and like yours turn the key and no nothing. I too have a trusted independent mechanic and I had it towed to him- he said there were absolutely no diagnostic signals being emitted when he hooked it up and that indicated to him it was the on-board computer which is located under the hood on the firewwall, the computer is responsible for just about everything that happens in conjunction with the vehicle running, if its fritzed, you don't go. He said he doesn't mess with them that I should take it to the dealer- he doesn't mess with them because he said they are not returnable parts and some have to be programmed with special software while others may be simply plug and play but bottom line was if he --or me-- bought a replacment computer and that didn't solve the problem, we'd be stuck with it.

So I took it to a dodge dealer, The good news--- they replaced the computer and its run fine ever since. Bad news--- it was about $1,500.00 for the job. Mine turned out to be just plug and play and had I known that for sure, I could have bought one for maybe $800- 900 and stuck it in myelf, but I had no way of knowing.
The dealer at least didn't present that risk, as they said at the outset that they would get it back in service for the app. $1,500.00 and for that they were good for their word.
So, good luck, maybe you can find a dealer or someone else who really knows the ins and outs of the on-board computer systems and they can check it for you.

[durango46]

I'm no car expert either, I used to tinker back in the days before all the electronics and computerization.... but anyway, I have a 2002 Dodge B 3500 Ram Van that suddenly just quit, and like yours turn the key and no nothing. I too have a trusted independent mechanic and I had it towed to him- he said there were absolutely no diagnostic signals being emitted when he hooked it up and that indicated to him it was the on-board computer which is located under the hood on the firewwall, the computer is responsible for just about everything that happens in conjunction with the vehicle running, if its fritzed, you don't go. He said he doesn't mess with them that I should take it to the dealer- he doesn't mess with them because he said they are not returnable parts and some have to be programmed with special software while others may be simply plug and play but bottom line was if he --or me-- bought a replacment computer and that didn't solve the problem, we'd be stuck with it.

So I took it to a dodge dealer, The good news--- they replaced the computer and its run fine ever since. Bad news--- it was about $1,500.00 for the job. Mine turned out to be just plug and play and had I known that for sure, I could have bought one for maybe $800- 900 and stuck it in myelf, but I had no way of knowing.
The dealer at least didn't present that risk, as they said at the outset that they would get it back in service for the app. $1,500.00 and for that they were good for their word.
So, good luck, maybe you can find a dealer or someone else who really knows the ins and outs of the on-board computer systems and they can check it for you.

thanks for the post...
Turns out my story is the same as yours.

I left 5:30 Sat. morning to take the van to Tate Dodge. on Ritchie Highway. Of course it broke down on Route 100. Waited for a tow truck for almost 1 1/2 hours. AH...delightful.
Anyway, finally got it to the dealer and they called a few hours later with the bad news. Computer....$1060 for a new one that wouldn't be in til this Thursday. (SMH). But...they said that may not be the end of it. They won't know the final results until the new computer is installed.

wow I miss my 1966 Chevelle

[Saticon3]

Sorry to hear that. You would think that such a vital part that has no moving things in it, no maintenance to it, would last a whole lot longer than 11 years.

[VdubbauVW]

Being a dodge, I'd get as much as you can for it and buy a honda..

Amen to that!!!

[FowlPlay]

If the mechanic has replaced the battery and the starter, and now you are online asking people here what to do next, I might suggest replacing your mechanic next.

[WKDWZD]

If the mechanic has replaced the battery and the starter, and now you are online asking people here what to do next, I might suggest replacing your mechanic next.

Brutal... But hard to argue with.

[Saticon3]

If the mechanic has replaced the battery and the starter, and now you are online asking people here what to do next, I might suggest replacing your mechanic next.

I can't really speak for the op, but, still my reaction is not necessarily.
I can do several basic jobs myself, but now lack the time, tools and space to do so. I know a "backyard" type mechanic guy that I similarly trust with some basic jobs, like when I'm fairly certain what the problem is and what the fix will be. He is far cheaper than dealers and other actual shops- yes its always a risk that he might get into something over his or I might mis-diagnose my problem, head and it has the potential to end up costing more in the long run, but, I keep that risk to a minimum and think in the long term I have saved.

Still, you have a point, diagnosis by replacing various things isn't a very efficient way to go about it.

[durango46]

I replaced the battery

I told him to replace the starter which he didn't think it was


He thought it may be the module.....but wasn't sure. So I decided to go to the dealer.


From what I had heard modules/computers don't go up that often. I wasn't willing to accept the fact that it was.....so I tried some CHEAP fixes before spending 1 k


any other assumptions

thanks or the help DH