Questionperiodically it will not start - i.e., starter will not engage and an error message reads out where the mileage
numbers usually appear on the odometer which is donE.
usually after the readout doneE appears, the vehicle will
crank. it's got approx 125,000 mi, well maintained and
high powered battery is less than a year old. also, i have
headlights, radio, air, etc - plenty of battery power. i don't have a chrysler dealer nearby (any longer) and would
appreciate any ideas you may have. thank you, tony
AnswerHi Tony,
That 'donE' is an indication that the engine control module has interpreted your use of the ignition key as if you were attempting to get a readout of the fault code numbers which might have been stored in the memory of that unit. To normally request that readout, you have to turn the ignition switch:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that switching in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Try it and you will indeed get 'donE'. So it may well be that because the starter is not responding you are in fact turning the key on-off etc. within 5 seconds such as to mimic the purposeful use of the key to request the codes. If that is not the case, then the one possibility is that the ignition switch itself has a faulty connection such that it is turning 'on-off' by itself due to bad contacts inside the switch.
Next time you try to start it, make sure that when you make an attempt and it doestn't work, then turn the switch off and wait for 5 seconds before trying again. If you always wait for 5 seconds, and yet the 'donE' still comes up, then that would in my way of thinking say that there you have a flaky ignition switch.
If that is not the case, and donE doesn't appear, then you have to figure out why the starter is not responding. The possibilities are: the 'start' position of the ignition switch is flaky, the starter relay in the box under the hood by the battery, the park/neutral safety switch on the transmission, the wire from the relay to the starter solenoid, the starter motor or solenod itself, the battery supply wire to the starter motor. Sorting that out requires observation, a voltmeter, and a helper. Let me know and I can tell you how to go about the diagnosis, or you can go to an auto electric shop and have them sort it out. Start by having a helper try to start it while you open the power box under the hood and listen for a soft click to occur at the starter relay when he tries the ignition key to the 'start' position.
But at least we can now probably determine the reason for the 'donE' appearing in the odometer window.
Roland
