I have a 2008 Dodge Charger SE completely stock (no after-market modifications). I had been having issues with it starting. First it was the slow start issue and I did some research and found that it might have been the Starter Relay (Relay #9 under the hood). I changed it and it helped almost immediately, but there was a burning smell like rubber or plastic burning every time I started the car. I didn't like the smell, so I knew something else was wrong (my dad is a tow truck driver/mechanic/salvage dealer, so I have been around cars my whole life). About a week later car wouldn't start again, and when I turned it over I got the smell but it was coming from the fuse box where the relays are located, but I couldn't get out out of the car fast enough to see where exactly the smoke was coming from so I just held the key in the start position for a few seconds so that I could get enough smoke to see where it was coming from. It was coming from under the vehicle, I told my husband that I think it was the starter, because after this it wouldn't even try to turn over. The car was basically dead, I got nothing when I turned the key over. I had my dad tow it home the next day and we pulled the starter and low and behold there was my burning smell, we replaced the starter ($150) and the car was back to just like it was the day we drove it off the lot. So in short it was not the Starter Relay (Relay #9), it was actually the starter and we were just getting lucky that the starter was in a good position and would hit sometimes. Now onto the new issue....when we put our key fobs into the ignition the red light blinks next to the fuel gauge and nothing happens almost like the car is not recognizing the key. If we pull the key out and flip it over and reinsert it sometimes it will work and other times it will just do the same thing. I can sit there and fiddle around and eventually the car will recognize the key and start (it can take up to 10 minutes). Sometimes it just takes a couple of tries. My question is this....is it my key fobs (as we have tried both and get the same results or is my ignition faulty? Is this a problem I can fix on my own or do I have to take it to my local dealer and let them rake me for every cent they can?
SOURCE: 1998 problem starting?
Coming from a Toyota tech, it sounds like the starter contacts are worn and time for a starter rebuild. parts are only available from toyota and and not expensive, and labour should be 1.5 hours.
SOURCE: I have a 2003 Dodge Caravan with a 3.3L it wont
Yes they do but I would rather think you have a bad battery cabe connection to the system, sometimes the battery cable corrudes and you can't see it try replacing the cable ends and the connector ends espically if they are by the battery.
SOURCE: 2003 dodge caravan won't start
My 2003 dodge caravan would not start after driving about 1/2 hour. I stopped for coffee and when got back in to start it started I switched gears and it stalled. I tried to start again switched gears then it started but only for 2 sec. No clicking, no cranking sound just would not start but battery functions were great. Spent 2 days with a mechanic who could not resolve so sent to Dodge. After a day of putting wires back and checking out the problem they said it was the computer. Said that it was bad and could be replaced at no charge due to malfunction. Yes, it worked fine afterwards no more problems. They also said that some of the computers are found to be defective like this one so I hope this helps you in the right choice to have the dealer check it out if you are unable to get a computer reading and there is no obvious short in the system. Free sounded very good but as you know there is no such thing as really free as they got me for other things $350 worth. ouch!
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