QuestionQUESTION: I talked to you before about my van.. it is a 1998 Chrysler Town and Country. We replaced the ignition switch and the key tumbler. now we tried to start the van and doesn't start. The light comes on on the dash. The clock and the horn work in the on position, but when we try to turn the key to start. nothing. The "brake" light will come on when we turn the key to start. Can you help? What did we do wrong?
ANSWER: Hi Melissa,
First you have to check whether the starter relay is clicking or not. That is in the power distribution center located under the hood near the battery. Its the sixth one from the front on the outside row. Listen for a soft "click". If not then check fuse 23 in that same box and fuse 10 under the dash. If you still don'r get a soft click sound then try moving the gear shift a little off center in park or neutral just in case the safety switch is out of adjustment.
If you get the soft click and no loud click from the starter, then it probably is the battery is too weak so you need to recharge it to be sure of that source.
If you still don't get the click then we need to check into the ignition switch wiring.
Roland
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QUESTION: Hi Roland. My 1998 Town and Country Van is still not starting. Let me be more specific. When the van was starting to have problems. The blower not working.. the turning signals not working (the hazard lights work). The driver's seat not working. The doors won't lock. The reverse light not working. You mentioned to replace the ignition switch. So, we did. Now, the car won't start. There is a soft click when we turn the key all the way. Did I tell you, we also replaced the tumbers, because the key was sticking. The thing is when we turn the key, the brake light will come on everytime, and then you can hear the fuses click on like a ding. The radio will go off. Now when we turn the key to the "on" position, the radio will work. You can also hear the blower motor turning on, but no air. What an ordeal this has become. We are about to just call the salvage to come pick it up. Can u help? We checked the fuses. They look fine. Thank you..
AnswerHi Melissa,
The soft click that you hear, assuming that it is coming from the relay in the box I described, means that the ignition switch is fine as regards the starting function. Now the rest of the problem of the starter motor not repsonding to that "click" is due to one of the following:
The battery charge level/voltage is down to lack of running the van for a while or a battery that is nearing the end of its life. If you don't own a battery charger, them see if another car is available to jump from its battery over to your battery. If that works, then you know your battery needs either charging or replacement.
If jumping doesn't cause the starter motor to work, then it could either be the starter relay (even though it clicks the switch points inside of it may be worn out), or the wire from the battery +clamp to the motor is not connected tightly to the starter motor or the clamps of the battery are loose or not making good contact with the battery posts, or the wire from the relay socket to the starter motor solenoid is disconnected (unlikely), or lastly the starter motor needs to be rebuilt/replaced. If the starter was working well when this all began then I would look first at the battery condition and the cable clamps as the most likely cause of this last issue. Once you get it started and running you can then sort out the remaing electrical issues if any.
You didn't say whether you have a volt-ohm meter but that could be used to verify the relay and the wire (brown) from the relay to the solenoid switch at the starter motor. That switch should make a loud click simultaneous with the soft click if the battery had a reasonable charge, the relay points were good, and the brown wire were connected. You could test to see if 12v appears at that solenoid switch of the starter motor itself when you move the key to the start position.
So contemplate on these possibilities and get back to me. Don't give up, you are almost home!
Roland
