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Dodge Caravan starting trouble, help!
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Scififantasy25
New User
Jul 3, 2005, 10:26 PM
Post #1 of 6
(2888 views)
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Dodge Caravan starting trouble, help!
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I have a 1998 dodge caravan. From time to time, for no reason, when you go to start it ...it makes the noise as if its started then shuts off within 2-3 seconds. When you try and start it over and over sometimes it stops even starting for 2-3 seconds and just grinds. Usually...it starts eventually. However the last time it did this it had to be towed cause we couldnt get it to start.
It has been in the shop TWICE in 2 weeks and had the starter replaced TWICE. It runs pretty well otherwise and dosent make and strange noises really...other than when it won't stay started. It isnt like the cars..where sometimes you can push the gas and once you get them to start rolling they stay started. When this one starts it just shuts off no matter what you do. It's making me mad and although the shop said bring it in next week so they can look at some panel thing...I'm beginning to wonder about their abilities.
So if anyone has any idea what it might be please let me know lol.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 4, 2005, 2:25 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: Dodge Caravan starting trouble, help!
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The grinding is no doubt a tooth missing from the ring (flywheel) gear, a big job! A new starter might cover this for a while.
The immediate stalling if I read this correctly would make a check on fuel pump pressure a good place to look. Could just be a fuel filter or more. This car should start without touching the gas pedal which only confuses it. I find it best with fuel injected vehicles to just move key to run for a couple seconds, then start as fuel pressure should have built up.
It's a bummer but a broken tooth on the ring gear requires taking out the transmission! This would happen or just grind roughly every third try, as engines only stop in three positions. When you hit the one with the missing tooth you are stuck! If you can turn the engine by tools or hand just a little you will pass the broken tooth and probably work. Good luck, prepare for some bucks here, Two problems to fix,
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Scififantasy25
New User
Jul 5, 2005, 12:58 PM
Post #3 of 6
(2879 views)
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Re: Dodge Caravan starting trouble, help!
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Well I don't know anything about cars really. However...the starter was replaced twice already so apparently that didnt fix it.
When it grinds its just he kinda grind that happens when you try to start a car thats already started.
Also, when it dies its kind of the die that happens when a car is out of gas.....but since its been in the shop 2-3 times this past month I would think they would have checked the fuel pump already.
The wierd thing is that eventually 9 time out of 10 it will start again and behave for quite sometime before the next episode.
One other thing is the lights werent acting right either when it won't start...but it dosent seem to be a battery issue. So I dunno! I'm getting frustrated and decided to do some research online before taking it back to the shop...since they dont seem to be figuring anything out either and I don't have another 500 dollars to pay them! lol
-C
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 5, 2005, 4:22 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: Dodge Caravan starting trouble, help!
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I hate to go here but you should complain to garage! Good mechanics can make serious money and deserve it. Bad ones exist but generally rare.
In fairness cars are a pill. Sometimes techs need to eat some poor work and make it right. Best, Tom
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Scififantasy25
New User
Jul 5, 2005, 4:33 PM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: Dodge Caravan starting trouble, help!
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Well the second starter replacement they didnt charge for...since they said the first one they put in "must be bad". But I'm beginning to believe they are trying to p*ss in the wind and tell us it's raining. In my opinion, you either say you don't know whats wrong..and recommend some place else, or you fix it. I'm at the end of my patience with the ..we know what it is...wait we don't know...we arnt sure...well bring it back next week (why next week I have no idea! As if anythings going to change one week to the next!). So far all they have done is replace the starter twice and take off the electical panel and poke in it.
-C
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 5, 2005, 8:07 PM
Post #6 of 6
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Re: Dodge Caravan starting trouble, help!
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Sorry to hear of your troubles. Perhaps another repair place is in order. Doesn't sound very good, best, Tom
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