Dodge Repair: 1998 Dodge Caravan, dodge caravan, antitheft device

Question
I have a 1998 Caravan which has been back to the dealership 4 times with this baffling problem.
Turn the ignition key and the engine turns over but stutters and dies out.  If you try this a total of 3 times there is no sound from the engine though the lights,radio, etc all work.
Now the strange part - - if you wait 1 hour the car will start just fine.  It is like an antitheft device, though the dealership says "no". I have no transponder for the locks and the driver's side lock has a habit of re-locking itself with the key in the door. Needless to say by the time the car is towed to the dealership and gets onto the computer, an hour has passed and there is no problem.

Answer
Scott,

Have you considered an exorcism at this point???.........Just kidding !!!!

I would have a good electrical shop do a relay check on your van...........You have only one problem, but because of that problem you get all of these other issues.......your problem is low voltage; with just a good educated guess I would think that you would have a sticking relay in the ignition circuit or possibly a poor system ground; You say that when you first start it, it will stutter and die out,  a starter system and an ignition system require at least a minimum of 9-10 volts in order to perform their job IF everything else is in order. The constant "on and off" of the key switch several times would not send more voltage to the sticking relay, but it would increase the "heat" or amperage at this relay.  they only operate on fractional voltage, and this could concievably react just like when your computer has a glitch you power it down, wait , and then power it up again to allow it to reset.

The other stray electrical problems you are having are a direct result of low voltage as some solenoids require voltage hold them open as well as to close them.

I know it is aggravating, but through s dilligent systematic check, you will eventually find it.  Iknow all of this doesn't help alot; but it will get you on the right track.

1-verify everything electrically in the ignition circuit.

2-check all of your ground connections including battery

3-remember that relays are more adversely affected by amperage than voltage


I will continue to do some more research on this, so respond back and keep me posted

millec1@bellsouth.net