Intermittent no crank/no start
 

OK, so my problem is with a town and country 2003 3.8 v6. The first issue that i can now attribute is when i went to the grocery store one day. I get out turn the vehicle off and go inside the store. When i come back out the van will not start or crank when i turned the key, after about three turns it cranks right up. i dont think much about it and continue on with my day. I believe this happened one more time that day but again, it started so i am on my way. While driving down the highway as i am turning the van shuts down on me and i cant get it to start or crank at all. I get it towed to my house and come out the next morning to try and start it. First turn of the key, nothing, second it starts right up. Shortly after it starting it dies out of no where. I turn it back on it cranks and turns on no problem, left it running for 5-10 minutes and it seems to be ok. Turn it off then on then off then on again everything is fine. Turn it off one more time and try turning it on and nothing. Wouldnt crank for about 2 days after this when i go out and try starting it. try starting cranks up i drive it a little seems to be ok. I went to autozone to get the codes pulled and they are 0700 and 0725. after this i change the Crankshaft position sensor, car cranks and i drive it for a few hours and then again i make a final stop and the car wont start or crank at all. leave it where it was over night come back the next day and it cranks and i drive it home. Since then it has been sitting in front of my house not cranking or starting at all. The starter relay clicks and the starter is good. so is the battery. I am left with thinking it could be several things still. Possibly the pcm, or the neutral/park switch, or SKIM module. If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions i would really appreciate this. I personally think its the pcm because of all the research i have done. But i dont want to spend 300 bucks if i dont have to. So any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for anyone that helps and please feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments.

what does it sounds like with it wont crank?

it makes no sound. the only sound is from the starter relay clicking.

smack the starter then see if it comes back to life

have tried that, didnt work. the starter is good i have jumped the starter relay and it cranked over every time.

red dot on the dash flashing or solid?

When you jump the relay you are taking it's output contacts out of the system and replacing them with a jumper. The contacts may be worn/corroded. Try replacing the relay if you haven't.

I just went to start the van...it starts right up. the red light on the dash just turns off. I think that when the van wont crank the light stays on. not positive will have to wait for van to fail again to be sure.

I have replaced the relays with the other relays in the fuse box to no avail. the relays click but nothing else happens

U have a skim key prob let a dealer look at it for u

wouldnt the light stay on or blink or something if that were the case?

a quote from you post

"think that when the van wont crank the light stays on"

ok, that is true. i guess i thought that since when it does start the light goes off. but what youre saying makes sense. it wont start again and when i have the key turned to turn the car on the light stays on, blinks once, and then turns back on. is this any type of signal? or just need to go see dealer? also how much would i be looking at to get this repaired? any ideas on a good place to start looking?

a dealer would need to fix its a propitiatory system that only a few places would have access to the skim key codes any way to replace this module.

i have another question. would the starter relay crank even while the red light is on?

nope it take out the ability to start the car

ok well all the relays in the fuse box still click when i try starting it. still skim issue? also i should mention that one time when i was driving it the red light was on the entire time. wouldnt the car shut off or not start if the skim were the issue?

This one's getting foggy or is it me? The starter relay is indeed clicking when you turn the key correct? If it clicks that says the PCM has received all the information it needs to allow the van to start. The click you hear is the relay's coil pulling the contacts closed. The relay is the last component in the chain before the starter. The closed contacts send voltage to the starter solenoid on the starter. That relay is the one and only component the PCM controls in the starting system once it receives the correct information. There is nothing between the relay and the starter but a wire connecting them.

What I'm saying is if the starter relay clicks nothing will prevent the starter from rotating except a weak battery, an open wire to the starter, a poor connection, bad starter or seized engine. At that point the security system has nothing to do with it. The usual symptom for a failed security system is a start and quick stall not a no crank (unless it locked out from multiple attempts). Where am I going wrong CHRYSLER TECH?

Yes the starter relay clicks. ive checked continuity from pin 85 in the relay to pin 31 on the C1 connector on the pcm and it has continuity. then i checked continuity from pin 87 on the starter relay to the starter and there is continuity. this tells me that it is not bad wiring. also i have jumped the starter manually and it cranks just fine everytime. hopefully Chrysler tech can give us his input or more of an explanation on the issue.

also i have jumped the starter manually and it cranks

There ya go just said it If the relay clicks and I highly doubt the starter relays is clicking more then likely ASD or some other relay.

If u can manually jump 30 and 87 U bypass the control side aka PCM and so on

If it click like u say then the control side is an issue but it wont click it will only click if the pcm provides the ground for the pin 85 and the IGN switch gives power on 86

OK one more thing if u turn on the key when it wont start and u jump the starter relay it starts but will it stay running? Id say no.

VEHICLE THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM
Upon failure of proper SKIM communication to the PCM, the PCM will shut off fuel after two seconds of run time. The engine will not re-crank on the key cycle that the failure occurred, a full key down sequence must be performed for the engine to crank again. After six consecutive fuel shut-offs, the engine will no longer crank on subsequent key cycles. The failure must be corrected and a valid communication process between the SKIM and the PCM must occur for the engine to crank and start again

Try banging the gear selector lever in and out of park a few times -- you might have a dodgy starter inhibit switch under the selector lever. Worth a try and costs nothing.
Leedsman.

just to let everyone know, it was the pcm