1998 Dodge Grand Caravan: won't start

Filed Nov 11, 2008 · Electrical · 102,677 miles · KY

Caravan will attempt to start then stalls out. Once done 3 times it will not start for hours or days. All gauges fail at this time as well. Dealer cannot duplicate so tries to charge me for replacing various parts. Dodge needs to be responsible and place a recall on this problem.

Filed Oct 27, 2008 · Electrical · 134,000 miles · SC

Randomly will start up and immediately shut down. After 3 times, will not start. Have had it taken to 4 different mechanics over the last 18 months. 2 were dodge dealerships. One dealership replaced the starter for $440. The next dealership (I was out of town for christmas, so couldn't return to first dealership) replaced the power train control module for $800. Still have had the problem. The message board is full of people with the same problem and dealers replacing the same parts that I have had replaced and still not getting fixed. If I can look on the internet and see what is wrong, why can't a mechanic? I will have the instrument panel cluster changed next and it better be no charge!!

Filed Aug 29, 2008 · Electrical · 00

I have a 1998 dodge grand caravan that has some electrical problems that can't seem to be fixed. The dashboard lights turn off and the vehicle won't start and stay running. It used to come right back on after tapping the center of the dash, but that doesn't work anymore. It even happens now while we are driving. My local dodge dealership can't figure out what's wrong with it, and after spending a chunk of money trying to get it fixed many different times, so my wife and children feel safe in it I am definitely sorry I ever bought it. The problem occurs now almost every day to every second day, and will last anywhere from a couple of minutes to couple of days.

Filed Aug 21, 2008 · Electrical · PA

Sometimes when I turn the key the engine will start and immediately stall. After the third try, it will not start at all. The gauges and odometer also fails at this time. After sitting for anywhere from 1 hour to 4 days (so far) the engine will start. It might be ok for a day or a month and then it happens again. Several times while driving the gauges go off, engine falters and then comes back on. Other times engine starts and idles rough as if there is a vacuum leak then it straightens out. This has been a problem off and on for around 2 years but is now happening more frequently. Today I went to a store and when I came out the car wouldn't start. It is still parked at the store. I researched the problem on the internet and found a variety of answers. Don't want to have to install many parts at $250 plus labor each time and still have the same situation. I know of three people with similar problems. I would like to know why there have been no recalls or service bulletins issued about this problem.

Filed Jul 2, 2008 · Engine · SC

Engine starts and immediately shuts off. After 3 or 4 tries it will not turn over at all. This happens completely at random and happens 3 or four times a month minimum. After 24 hours, engine will start normally. Replaced body control module and clock spring. A mechanic also checked for loose connections in the instrument cluster and corrosion.

Filed Nov 4, 2006 · Electrical, Fuel system · 75,000 miles · TX

1998 dodge grand caravan. Tried to start it and it would start and die about 3 times and then not start at all. Replace PCM. Worked a couple days and then started again. Read on web boards of this happening to other people and if they hit the dash it would start and when it happened again I hit the dash and it would start. When it wouldn't start all the guages on the dash would not work. This seemed to work. Then when I went over a bump and turned at the same time the van would die. I could put it in "n" and get it started again while I was still turning. This is very dangerous becase you loose power steering while going around a corner. Heard on message borad if you took the instrument cluster off and check the saudering that this woudl solve the problem. Did this but did not solve the problem. Then the fuel gauge would stop reading when it did have gas in it. Then the fuel guage would start dinging even though it read full. I have seen on the internet with many people having the same problems. Below is one such website. Have done all kinds of diagnostics on it and can not figure out what is wrong with it. It still looses guages and will not start intermittently. Http://www.topix.net/forum/autos/dodge-grand-caravan/tpc8ih1li2s41i22d/p5.

Filed Oct 4, 2004 · Electrical · 90,000 miles · WI

Ignition switch at first would give me some trouble by not turning at all. But I was able to eventually get it to work. After some time without failure, it finally did it again, only this time, it would not budge. I tried turning the wheel, I tried to move the shift lever, all in an attempt to see if it was part of the problem. But to no avail. The ignition switch was completely frozen, and the car would not start. When I had to have it towed, the vehicle could not be put into neutral, because the shift lever is in the locked state when the ignition switch was in the off position. The total cost of the repair, not including the tow, was $250.00. Dealer wanted $325.00. This problem leaves you stranded, and the vehicle cannot be moved because the shift lever is locked. Could happen to someone in a remote area, hopefully the weather will be warm at the time! I also know from many other people who own dodge/plymouth mini vans, ranging in years 1997 to 2000, and they have had the same exact problem. Will chrysler recall this, replace fault units with better quality units, or even reimburse those of us who have been stranded for this common problem?

Filed Jun 6, 2004 · Electrical · 111,400 miles · CA

About three or four times a week I will lose my dash guages. The lights and upper dash light will still work but guages won't. After no set amount of time it will power back up and doors will lock down, seat belt light will come on and van will act like it just started (goes through intial start up sequence). Sometimes the van won't start. Key will be turned and van will start up and immediately stall. This will happen three times and then doesn't roll over or anything. Lately van will lock and unlock itself continually while driving, sometimes unlocking itself after alarm has been set risking the loss of valuables in the car while we are away. The check engine light comes on periodically and we take it into dealer and the computers aren't communicating so they replace wires, etc and fixes for a little while but doesn't fix the stalling problem, etc. Dealer doesn't know what is wrong and suggested replacing all wiring at $2000 but no guarantee this is causing problem. We have already spent close to $700 on new starter, etc. To no avail. On message board someone suggested when it doesn't start before it completely won't turn over to turn the key over and hit the dash as hard as possible and it worked....started right up. Suggested the circuit board is bad. Why can't the dealer figure this out. Still costs $500 to fix. We don't have the money to keep putting into van....we just bought it less than a year ago...but we can't afford to get anything else right now either.