2001 Chrysler Town & Country Logo
Posted on Oct 20, 2008

Car doesn't start

The alternator, battery and ignition switch have been replaced. The car STILL won't start on first attempt. it takes 3-8 times for it to start. Other symptoms..... horn won't work sometimes, the car did not turn off when the key was off (once)...the starter was checked and it is OK. It is very frustrating. What else can it be???

  • dragonfly23 Nov 13, 2008

    Thanks! i will try it

  • Marvin
    Marvin May 11, 2010

    Do you have a factory manual? if not get one

×

1 Answer

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Mayor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 2 times.

Problem Solver:

An expert who has answered 5 questions.

  • Contributor 5 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 12, 2008
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

Mayor:

An expert whose answer got voted for 2 times.

Problem Solver:

An expert who has answered 5 questions.

Joined: Nov 12, 2008
Answers
5
Questions
0
Helped
2309
Points
7

This may or may not help. Hopefully it will. We recently purchased this 1998 chrysler town & country. Everything was working fine, started fine, etc. we took it to get emissions done.....passed emissions.. .made it home. i turned the car off to run inside for a minute. came back out car started.. ran for 3 seconds than died out. tried again... ran for 3 seconds than died out... after that it no longer would do anything. all the lights worked except in the ignition module. the top dashboard lights worked though. I then noticed that the "alarm set" light stayed lit. after replacing fuses and running an OBD test and found no trouble codes or issues with fuses it dawned on me it may be the alarm. after searching the internet for hours i found a forum that suggested unplugging the battery for about 5 minutes....rehook it and then try starting it again. well i tried doing that the first time using the REMOTE to unlock the doors and nothing happened. i locked the doors and repeated the same battery unhook-rehook process except without using the remote... (i noticed a lot of forums saying that the remotes can be deffective in that they somehow trigger the alarm if the transmitter is not working properly)... so after unhooking and rehooking the battery and using only the key to unlock it started right up! so i've decided to not use the remote at all and have had no other problems. let me know if this helps

Add Your Answer

×

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

×

Loading...
Loading...

Related Questions:

0helpful
1answer

I changed the ignition switch in my 2003 chevy monte carlo I did the 3 11 min steps and still wont try to start any suggestions

Is the security light flashing? Did the light respond to your 3/10 attempts. Make sure the battery is fully charged then just try to start. Many times while changing the switch the door stays open add to that your attempts to start and the battery will have enough current to run the starter but nothing left for ignition and fuel injectors. I hope this helps. Take care.
0helpful
7answers

Car will not start, replaced the battery twice

your alternator is bad replace the alternator is draining your battery. whe n your is low it doesnt have enough cranking d starter.
1helpful
1answer
0helpful
2answers

Dead battery on 2000 clk 320 , after checking oil and plugs . first attempt to start click'd but did not turn over. Next i turned the ignition all the way off then on, it started. Next day, dead.

Well, first, the battery is not dead. You could have a poor electrical connection somewhere between the battery, starter, ignition switch, or another component of your start circuit, or possibly a failing starter solenoid, or ignition switch. Some electrical testing will be necessary to find the problem. A quick check the next time it won't crank over, is to pull the starter solenoid wire off and check for power on the wire when key is held in crank position. If power then, probably a failing starter solenoid. If no power there, then you have to diagnose the start circuit back through the ignition switch to the battery. Are all your battery and ground connections clean and tight? Starter connections? Use process of elimination, use care, and you'll find the problem.
0helpful
1answer

My Nissan maxima won't start on the first try

Could be several things that caused car won't start, inculding starter, ignition, dirty or loose battery connections.
Honda Diagnostic Tool
5helpful
1answer

I have a 1984 dodge D150, not charging, battery is good,charges with charger\r\ntruck starts and runs pretty good,but is running off of battery, NEW altenater,regulator,and belts belts are tight,replaced...

The first thing you need to do is stop wasting your money by replacing parts. Then get a volt-ohm meter and a test light to test the circuits between the battery, the alternator, the ignition switch, the starter relay and the voltage regulator. (a.k.a. Charging System Circuits)

To start, the "B+" or "BATT" terminal on the alternator (large black wire) MUST have a solid, direct connection to the battery. Check for the proper voltage here. Then, the red wire on the alternator at the "F2" terminal should be HOT at all times. If not, you probably still have a bad fuse link that you missed. The "F1" terminal on the alternator (Light Green wire) is known as your "FIELD" wire. It comes from the "IG" terminal at the voltage regulator. It should be hot any time the key is in the ON position. If not, your voltage regulator is not working or your ignition switch is not providing power to the regulator. Finally, The "F" terminal (Red wire) at the regulator should be hot any time the ignition switch is in the ON position. This actually gets it's power from the starter relay, which gets its power from the ignition switch.

Please also review these articles:

What Else Could Be Wrong?

My Car Won't Turn Over
1helpful
3answers

My battery in my car kept dying so my boyfriend had to go buy a new one he took the old battery out and was running the car on the alternator because it wouldn't do anything with that old battery in it. He...

Sounds like the alternator isnt charging the battery to me. Try getting a Ohm/Volt meter and testing the lines that go to the alternator. If the show any kind of voltage then all should be good, if not then you have to trace the wire back to the battery fuse block and try on both side of the fusable link. If you are getting a reading on the battery side of the link but not the other side you will have to have the wire replaced or run a new one. As far as it not starting now, from replacing the battery I am not 100% sure. I think that his uncle is correct and you would have to reset the security system, the mechanic should know how to do that.
0helpful
2answers

93 eagle talon starting issues

did you check the body ground?
4helpful
5answers

Car won't start

Sounds like it is the ignition switch. You need to purchase a new switch from the dealer and make sure that it is a redesigned one, or at least get their guarantee that the new one will not fail.

There is most likely a build up of grease inside the switch. This is a design flaw with the factory switches, but has apparently been fixed with new switches from the dealer. Like I said, just make sure it is a new one when you are buying it from the dealer. You will need to perform a Passlock Relearn once the new switch is installed.

The old ignition switch will need to be replaced. If you feel like saving yourself some money and do it yourself the follow the instructions below.

1. Remove cover behind the steering wheel
2. Unplug the switch and unscrew the two torx bolts
3. Install new switch by reversing process.

Any time a component in the Passlock system is changed, the learn procedure must be completed for the Theft Deterrent System to sync the password. The procedure requires no special tech tools or computers.

30 Minute Learn Procedure
1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
2. Attempt to start the engine, then release the key to ON, vehicle will not start.
3. Observe the SECURITY telltale light, after approximately 10 minutes the telltale light will turn OFF.
4. Turn OFF the ignition, and wait 5 seconds.
Repeat steps 1 through 4 two more times for a total of 3 cycles/30 minutes, the vehicle is now ready to relearn the Passlock Sensor Data Code and/or passwords on the next ignition switch transition from OFF to CRANK.

Important
The vehicle learns the Passlock Sensor Data Code and/or password on the next ignition switch transition from OFF to CRANK. You must turn the ignition OFF before attempting to start the vehicle.

Start the engine. The vehicle has now learned the Passlock Sensor Data Code and/or password.

You should be good to go. Good Luck!
Not finding what you are looking for?

301 views

Ask a Question

Usually answered in minutes!

Top Chrysler Experts

ZJ Limited
ZJ Limited

Level 3 Expert

17989 Answers

Thomas Perkins
Thomas Perkins

Level 3 Expert

15088 Answers

john h

Level 3 Expert

29494 Answers

Are you a Chrysler Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Answer questions

Manuals & User Guides

Loading...