Start is not working? Engine will not crank over?

JIBUS

MEMBER
2003 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
120,000 MILES

'03 Dodge Caravan. Wouldn't start (no turn over, but lights all on) for my wife this morning, started fine for me later on. After driving to a few places, it wouldn't start again. I went to look at it, it started fine for me, but then just shut off after idling for a few moments, and now won't start again. Lights, battery, seem strong, soft click when turning key, as if relay perhaps is working, but no turn over, nothing. Seems odd that it also shut off as if all spark just died. Did not sputter or hesitate, just shut off.

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Sounds like you have a possible battery issue. However, we need to run through the basic systems first to rule out a battery.

Here are a couple guides that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-battery

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-car-battery

Once we know what the battery is doing we can go from there. However, it is unlikely that the starter is the issue simply because it seems to be working and it will not cause the engine to stall.

Which points back to a battery issue. Please see below on how to replace the battery if this is what it turns out to be.

If not, please let us know and we can go from there.

Thanks

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