Chrysler Repair: Town & Country 99 doesnt turn on, solenoid switch, ford cougar

Question
Hello my friend, fisrt of all, I am from Mexico, so please excuse me about my english, I hope you'll understand me by the way. My mom got a town and country '99 , the problem is that doesn't run the engine when you turn the key. The battery is quite good, recently new, the lights can be on, also the radio and all stuff. when we turn the key, we only hear the regular "tac" sound of the key but the minivan doesn't start. Days before, we had the same problem but with 2 or 3 times repeating the turn of the key, the engine run very good. But now, there is no 2 or 3 chances, its simply doesn't work. I guess the problem is about the ignition, (in spanish we say LA MARCHA) so I want to know were are the -I dont know how to say, in spanish we say the carbons of the ignition, because I remember of a friend of mine that have an old Ford Cougar that have a similar problem, and this friend hits with a hammer when the cougar gave him problems at the bottom of the car. So if you know or think what can I do, and if you recommend to hit that "carbons" please tell me where they are, and what to do later.

Thanks for your help my friend. Excuse me my english, be patient please.

Answer
Hi Daniel,
I think you are asking about the starter motor not cranking the engine so that it will start, correct? If that is so, and you are hearing a fairlly loud "clunk" sound when you try the start position, then that means that everything up to the starter solenoid switch is working properly. When the starter motor doesn't engage the engine and crank it over, it either has to be a weak battery, a loose battery cable from the (+) post directly to the motor, or a non-working stater motor. If you want to find the starter motor just listen for where the sound of the loud click is coming from; that is the starter motor. You could try tapping on the side of the motor with a hammer while a helper tries the key to start it. If that doesn't work:
I would begin by checking the battery cables. Disconnect the (-) post cable, then check the clamp on the (+) post to be sure it is clean and shiney on the post and inside of the clamp. Then follow the fat red wire on that clamp that goes to the starter motor and check that it is tightly attached at the starter motor. Then reconnect the (+) clamp to the post, and then finally reconnect the (-) clamp to its post. Then see if it will start. If not, then you have to consider the battery or the starter motor.
The battery charge state can be assessed with a battery hygrometer test tool that costs less than $5. Alternatively you can skip that step and simply buy a small battery charger and hook it up to the battery clamps overnight (+ to +, and - to -).
Then try to start it with that overnight charge. Your battery may appear to be good (lights/radio) but not have enough stored energy to operate the starter motor. If that doesn't work, then I would try jump starting the engine from another car's battery, and if that doesn't do it then I would remove and rebuild the starter motor at autoelectric repair shop.
If you write me back, please tell me which engine is in the van. There are several possibilities and so the motor location and procedure to remove it are slightly different.
Your english is very good. If I have misunderstood the situation please let me know.
Roland