1998 Dodge Caravan COMPUTER PROBLEMS

Tiny
BOOKMANN45
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
Computer problem
1998 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 140.00 miles

HI! MY 1998 DODGE CARAVAN V-6. HAS PROBLEMS. SOME DAYS YOU GO OUT TO STARTS IT AND IT WON'T START. YOU LET IT SIT ALL DAY AND IT START. IT ACTS LIKE THE ALARM IS ON AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT KEY OR YOU ARE TRYING TO STEAL IT. SOMETIMES YOU CAN UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE KEY AND IT WON'T LET YOU IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. YOU HAVE TO UNLOCK THROUGH THE REAR DOOR. BUT THEN IT STILL WON'T START. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP? THANKS IT'S A GREAT VAN.
Saturday, December 6th, 2008 AT 1:32 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
IMPALASS
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,112 POSTS
Hello -

Well, let's see what we can't do... You may have several things going on or it all may be related... But for now, let's try to break them out and see if they all come together.

First, let's get on the same model and engine. Please let me know if this is a Grand Caravan, or Grand Caravan ES, Grand Caravan LE, or Grand Caravan SE.

Next I need to know your engine size by liter and the 8th digit of your VIN.

Also, to save a little time - when you get that info to me... If it is drivable, please go to Auto Zone (AZ) or O'Reilly's (OR) and for FREE they can pull the codes to the car. Most important: Once they check your codes, if they find something and you don't get it fixed and need to get back with us, please make sure you tell us exactly what the code was, number and all. Example, if the code was E0568 O2 Sensor bad. Then make sure you give us all of that. While there for FREE also they can bring their tester out and check your battery, alternator and starter.

They do have a tool check out so you can bring the scanner home to do it also and then go back once it is running for the other.

I understand you feel it may be the alarm... Not ruling that out... But let's try to check a couple of other things too. We need to figure out if it is electrical or fuel related. Pull a plug wire off of the spark plug and insert something into the end of it and have someone try to start the car and have the metal object really close to a piece of metal on the engine and see if you are getting a good strong popping blue spark. Don't have your hands on any part of the metal! If there is no spark, then it is electrical. If you are getting good spark then you need to get a fuel pressure check on the fuel pump to ensure it is putting out okay.

Now when you say it won't start... The engine turns over, pulleys moving etc but it never fires off?

If you will do the above and get back with me on the specifics then we can move on from there.
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Saturday, December 6th, 2008 AT 11:13 PM

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