My 1996 Dodge Caravan starts well but shuts down when shifted to drive or reverse. I have to try several times till it moves. Once it moves it no longer shuts down. Why?

SOURCE: dodge ram van e250 dies while driving

try changing the coil- sometimes they get hot and break down- once they cool off vehicle will start and run until they get hot again

SOURCE: wont shift out of park

Same thing happened to me. I had accidentally kicked something while streching out my right leg. It turns out there is an actual switch somewhere up above your feet directly above the brake pedal area that I had toggled when streching my leg!

Because I knew that it must have been that I kicked something, I was reaching under there, above near the brake pedal and eventually, miraculously found a little switch, which when toggled again, allowed me to get the car out of park and drive away.

I have yet to find any reference to this in the owners manual or online yet, but it's a fact.
I tried to find the switch again a moment ago, but could not - had to get back into work as I had been stranded on the road for the last half hour.

WEIRD!

SOURCE: 2007 dodge caravan, won't start at first. I leave

Sounds like the shifter linkage needs adjusted. There is a neutral saftey switch that prevents the car from being started in any foward or reverse gear. If the shifter linkage is out of adjustment, the neutral safety switch will give you starting problems.

SOURCE: dodge 1996 caravan/engine starts then abruptly shuts off

I would check the iac(idle air control valve) first it controls the idle, and then if it is still acting up you may have to change the crank/cam position sensor

SOURCE: wont always start

Did anyone check the clutch interlock switch? It's possible the position is out of adjustment. My 2008 SRT4 is right at the bottom. If you don't push the clutch ALL the way down, it won't start.