Chrysler Repair: 2003 T&C with Start/Stalling Issue., digital logic circuits, crank sensor

Question
I have a 2003 Town and Country that is having a start/stall issue. Saturday night we had the van on and running. Took the key out for 5 minutes tops then went to start it and nothing. Tried to jump the starter, then had battery jumped. When it was jumped it started right up but then shut off. 30 minutes later it started again and drove fine all the way home and we were an hour and half away. Sunday it started right up and I ran a few errands. Later that day we went to leave and it started but then stalled as we were backing out of the driveway. We put it in neutral to push back in the driveway and then it started again, Got us to the gas station then died and had to be towed home. Started on Monday then died at the auto parts store and had to be towed again! It is so frustrating. We have it at the mechanic and they say they can't figure out what is wrong with it. It started right up for them but after 30 minutes of running it stalled again. They hooked it up and it is giving no codes. This is our only means of transportation so needless to say it is creating a huge hardship on us. Some people say replace instrument panel, some say circuit board. Though it is at a Chrysler Dealership now when I called another Chrysler service dept to ask their input they said it was the cam or crank sensor. Could you please help and lead us in the right direction to get this fixed. I dont have money to spend on useless fixes so I would like to get it right the first time. Thanks a bunch!!!

Answer
Happy New Year, Cortney!
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Hi Cortney,
The mix of unexplained "no starter motor", "no starts with starter motor", "stalling with no reason", makes me think about there being a faulty ignition switch. It has several 'sections': one for the starter motor, one for the engine needs, one for the body electricals and unfortunately the engineering of the wiring has gotten a little 'too smart' in that digital logic circuits are now involved. If one or two of those section was flaky you could experience this sort of behavior and without leaving any codes. But it also could be a logic device that is acting up (the 'front control module' or the 'body computer') so you would want to check whether or not the ignition switch was in fact connecting to those devices. I would doubt that a cam or crank sensor is the issue because those would set a code. To verify that hypothesis requires some sleuthing, either of the wires at the switch proper or at various locations in the wiring. Let me know whether you have a volt-ohmmeter and want to be prepared to do the steps the next time the van acts up. It pretty much has to be "caught in the act", not diagnosed when it is running fine.
Roland
PS I only found your question today in the 'pool' of unansewered questions, about 4 days after you submitted it, so if it has been resolved I would be curious too to learn what was the cause. Thank you