Chrysler Repair: T&C van tries to start 3 times and quits, chrysler town and country, drb iii

Question
I read with interest the question from Paul who also has a 1998 Chrysler Town and Country mini van that would attempt to start 3 times and run approximately 2 seconds each time and after the 3rd time the vehicle would not turn over at all.  Usually when I wait 3 or 4 hours and come back the vehicle starts fine until the same process happens again a few days later.  What do you think is wrong?  It almost appears as if the system is resetting itself in the 3 or 4 hours while I wait for it to start again.  Do you think it is the ECM or computer or a weak relay.  Thinking about the auto shut off relay or starter motor relay but that does not explain the resetting in 3 or 4 hours.  Do you think I should order a new computer?  Thanks

Answer
Hi David,
This is symptomatic of a glitch in the vehicle theft security system when it doesn't recognize the disarm request when you enter the van using the door key or key fob. The three tries and your out is evidentally programmed into the computer. You might try entering from the passenger side door just in case the wire from the driver door lock is flakey. Or you can avoid the whole mess by never invoking the theft security system, by never using the power door locks or the key fob to secure the vehicle and instead just use the push-buttons on the interior of the doors to secure the vehicle. That way the theft security system will not be activated so you won't have the later hassle. It is possible to troubleshoot the system with the aid of a higher level diagnostic box like the Chrysler DRB III but the price is not in the range of the vehicle owner and paying the dealer to do it may be also not worth it to you. You also might have some success by removing and in a few minutes re-inserting the IOD fuse which is #28 at the very rear of the box that is under the hood. That might shorten the reset time but it isn't a cure in the long term. I would opt to just use the push-buttons, but that may not be your preference. I have not seen any reason to think that the ecm of bcm itself will solve the problem by replacement and it is doubtful that a relay would be the cause.

Roland