No starter?

Tiny
FRODZ
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 225,000 MILES
This van is the Sport model. While driving, it shuts off and will not crank at all.
Starter is good.
Battery charged.
Signal from ignition switch coming out.
Relays good.
Fuses good.
Fuse box and fuses all replaced with same part number.
The check engine light is on but no codes.
Try the self check with the ignition switch and does not work either.
Change ECU with same part number and the only difference is that now the self check work and gave a p1684 code.
I Googled it and found no power to ECU.
Thursday, January 25th, 2018 AT 1:23 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
The P1684 could just mean the battery was disconnected.
Actually this means sets when the TCM loses battery power, not the ECU or ECM.
Anyhow, since you appear to or say just about everything checks out okay and I see the PCM has to ground the starter relay, lets start there.
I assume this is the Grand Caravan because the plain Caravan does not have the 3.8l.
Is this also a manual or automatic transmission?
At the PCM there is a yellow wire at pin 38 of connector 1, make sure it is getting battery voltage (twelve volts) from the ignition switch when the key is on start.
Check fuse #15 in the integrated power module cause it feeds the transmission control module.
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Saturday, January 27th, 2018 AT 8:08 AM
Tiny
FRODZ
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  • 3 POSTS
Pin 38 getting the signal from the ign switch.
Fuse#15 good.
And yes is a 2003 Grand Caravan Sport 3.8L.
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Saturday, January 27th, 2018 AT 11:33 AM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
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If you ground that wire from the starter relay to the PCM, and then turn the key to start, will the starter motor engage or not?
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Saturday, January 27th, 2018 AT 11:39 AM
Tiny
FRODZ
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
A jumper from the ground of the relay to pin 38 at the PCM? Is that what you mean?
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Saturday, January 27th, 2018 AT 2:51 PM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
No, from that yellow wire at pin 38 to a metal ground, so it grounds that relay.
Do not forget to also turn the key to start once you ground that wire.
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Saturday, January 27th, 2018 AT 3:51 PM

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