2015 Town and Country issues starting. Started when pressing on the gas pedal.

Tiny
GPRIBYL
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 36,000 MILES
The van wouldn't start this morning. It sounded like it was going to start and then would just stop. I thought the battery was bad, but the battery is only 6 months old. The battery tested good. Jumping the car didn't help at all. The van did start if when turning the ingition key, I pressed on the gas, and it started right up. Been driving around and started it up 4 more times so far, without an issue. Asked some other people and one said sometimes the gas will be pulled back into the tank, and you have to press the gas to get it started if that happens. Another person said they hadn't ever heard of that in a new vehicle, and that maybe the fuel pump is loosing pressure. Even having the van sit for several hours, it starts up just fine, and has started up fine for the year we have owned it. Talked to the dealership and they said that unless the issue is happen at the moment, there is little they can do to figure out the issue. They said they can test the fuel pump, but if it starts up just fine, it will be hard to determine why it didn't start this morning. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 2:24 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,543 POSTS
OK, you didn't touch the gas pedal at all and tried starting it with no luck? Then you touched the pedal and it started up OK? You say it sounded like it was starting and then shut off, do you mean it popped a couple times and then stopped? Are you in an area that got very cold overnight? Was the van setting in the cold?
I'm thinking you were the victim of some condensation in the throttle body if it fits the cold profile. A small amount of moisture could have bridged the gap between the blade and the throttle body, normally not a problem, but if it froze it could have blocked the airflow. Have only seen it once but it's a possible item if it got cold.

If not then as the dealer says, it would be very hard to duplicate.
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 AT 7:48 PM
Tiny
GPRIBYL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Yes, I normally just press the brake, turn the key, and it starts right up, but that one time I had to press the gas to start it up. A bunch of white smoke came out the exhaust initially after pressing the gas to start it.

The van was sitting in the cold, but it wasn't extremely cold, maybe in the high 30's, low 40's. I don't know when you say it "popped a couple times", but it sounded like it normally does when it starts up, but it lasted several seconds longer until it sputtered and then stopped. It was about the same temperature this morning and it started up just fine. It has been cold (30's), rainy, and pretty humid (90%).

I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but over the course of two days, it was only started once, and it was only to reposition the van so we could park our car next to it in the driveway, so it only ran for maybe like 30 seconds.

Also, the tank was only 1/4 full, but no gas was added the next several times when it started up just fine. It might just be in my head, but it seems like it starts up faster now, compared to times before.
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Thursday, January 24th, 2019 AT 6:50 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,543 POSTS
Those temperatures and high humidity could have caused the issue I described. It's not real common but it does happen.
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Thursday, January 24th, 2019 AT 12:51 PM
Tiny
GPRIBYL
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you for your help Steve. Hopefully that was all it was and there isn't anything to worry about.
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Thursday, January 24th, 2019 AT 12:57 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,543 POSTS
It's one of the things that can make a mechanic want to start drinking. You test out everything and find nothing wrong. It is possible there is or was something else, but unless it does it again and it gets tested in that condition it will remain a mystery.
However in the meantime, thank you for using 2CarPros. Please return anytime with your automotive questions.
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Friday, January 25th, 2019 AT 5:23 PM

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