Chrysler Repair: 98 T&C refuses to crank; ok after battery discon/wait, voltage spike, dodge chrysler

Question
Roland,

My problem has been fixed now for 5 weeks, It ended up being a very small discharge from the battery from time to time. The computer thought it was being hot wired. A friend of mine ran it while on his computer for 4 days before it showed. Once the discharge showed he narrowed it down to battery. The battery was a 60 month Chrysler 60 month gold battery that was 3 years old. The Mechanic worked for Dodge/Chrysler for 29 years.

Answer
Hi Pat,
I really appreciate that report of what was causing the problem with your no cranking. It must be an internal voltage spike from the battery that is giving the anti-theft a false alarm signal. That sort of behavior has been reported by other owners. I trust that you simply replaced the battery and that solved the problem. If not, let me know so I don't make a mistake to recommend that solution.
I believe that the reason there is no cranking when this happens is that the mid-90's-on anti-theft system includes a relay that cuts out the starter motor actuation circuit when it senses a theft is underway and also opens the autoshutdown relay.
I will copy your original question at this point for reference for those who find this question and answer in the archive.
Thanks so much for filling me on the solution.
Roland
"Sometimes my town and country will not start. When I turn the key nothing happens. Everything but the Dash and the starter works. If I unhook the battery it will reset after 20 min - 15 hours and start. It stalls on first start then it will run on second start. I also from time to time lose the dash (speed , RPM, Gas and mileage) when this happens the ABS light comes on then the air bag then the alarm set light. After driving it it will kick back on and lock all the doors and regain function."