Strange electrical starting issue 94 Town & Country
 

3.8 ltr
4 spd trans

Intermitant starting problems started out occasionally but has quickly become an all the time issue.

Symptoms are....in no specific order

1) Turn key to start and get a quick starter engagement then nothing. Such asthe effects of bad connection at starter. electronic dash is blank . no lights in info center on top of dash. This happens accasionally.

2) Turn key to "off" position and hear a rattling noise from under the dash. similar sound to a fan motor but more pronounced. Sound will continue until battery is disconnected. Regardless of key position.This happpens consistantly.

3) Turn key to "on" position and get dim lights ininfo center but no electronic dash. and a sound similar to air escaping from a balloon (lowsqueal)coming from behind dash. I'm thinking its the beeper thinga majigrunning on low voltage. Try to start from here and again everything goes blank. This happens accasionally.

4) Sometime the system is completely dead regardless of key position. This happens accasionally.

5) Every once in while the van will start and run perfectly fine.
This happens rarely.


Ignition switch works smoothly without binding.
Battery has been replaced
a used engine wasinstalled approx 10,000 miles ago.
Connections at alternater and starter appear to be clean and tight.

I'm thinking the electrical portion of the ignition switch hasgone bad.

Any other idea's or experiences would be greatly appriciated.

Mark

RE: Strange electrical starting issue 94 Town & Country
 

what you just explained sounds like typical connection problem, and that's the main connection, the one on the battery.
regardless of changing the battery, you should double-check connectors on the battery and make sure that wires are tightly fitting to the connector. after that, check the main connection on the body (in europe, that's minus. I presume you have + pole to the body).

have somebody in the car, trying to crank the engine, and you stay under the hood.
if there is a bad connection, you might be able to hear a "hiss" sound that's comming from that place (hihg resistance on that place and sparking becouse of that).
in any case, you have a problem with one of the main wires. the one that's supplying the entire vehicle. focus on that.

when you do succeed in starting the engine, try to measure the current in which the alternator is charging the battery. you also might have a problem with voltage regulator.
or see an electrician.