Chrysler Repair: Crossfire wont crank

Question
2005 Crossfire fails to crank. lights all work but starter will not engage. Allow to sit sometimes a few minutes and sometimes a few hours and then it will crank and start and drive fine. What needs to be replaced?

Answer
Hi Mike,
The first possibility is the battery is too weak to energize the starter motor. There is a starter relay in the power distribution box which should click when the key is turned to start. If it does and you hear no louder click at the starter motor itself then the starter solenoid switch is also not closing, probably because of the weak battery. How old is the battery compared to its warranty? Have you tried a jump start from another vehicle? Do you have a battery charger you can connect to the battery for a few hours? If the battery discharges even though in good condition then the "ignition off draw" current should be measured and if found greater than 50 mA it will then be appropriate to search for something left "on".
"Lights all work" is not an indication that the battery is strong enough to crank the starter motor.
Roland