Question2005 Chylsler town and country van - 6 cyl - won't start - doesn't try to turn over - makes a slight "click" sound (just one click, not clicking...)It's not a battery problem - all electral stuff works - I tried to jump it just in case - Without looking at it, a friend thinks it's a starter - should I go ahead and replace the starter?
AnswerHi Don,
The current requirements for the 'electrical stuff' are a small fraction of what is required for the starter motor to turn over. So we need to do some circuit checking before concluding it is the motor.
Have you checked fuse #9 (40 amp) behind the starter motor relay in the box in the engine compartment. Look carefully at its wire to be sure it isn't cracked.
If that is OK, then I would first remove the - post battery clamp, then the + post. Then clean the post/clamp interfaces. Then follow the wires attached to the - clamp to their terminuses at the engine and the body and check to be sure those connections are clean and tight. Finally, check the heavy red wire at the + clamp to make sure that it isn't corroded at the clamp connection, and follow that wire to the starter to be sure it is tightly attached to the starter. Then put the clamps back on the battery, + first, then - clamp. Then give it try.
If you still only get a soft click coming from the starter relay in box under the hood where all the relays are located, then try a jump directly to clamps of the battery.
If that doesn't produce starter solenoind action (the louder click) then I would wonder about the yellow/gray wire from the front pin of the starter relay to the starter motor solenoid, so check the continuity of that wire, or at least check that at the solenoid.
If that is ok, then I would believe the solenoid switch is not good and that means replace the starter motor/solenoid package.
But it this problem came on suddenly, doing these fuse/wire checks is a good thing to do first.
Roland
