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My stupid car wont start

M

MrBlahh

Senior member
Well I went to target and when I was finished shopping my car wouldnt start. It basically gives sort of a little sputter and then you just hear the starter cranking away. If you immediatly try to start it up you dont get the sputter. Weve been messing around with it and we are totally stumped. All lights and the radio work, the computer seems to be working, the ASD relay seems to be working. Weve changed the crank sensor, the cam sensor and the igntion coil. The ignition coil only gives one spark to the spark plugs and then nothing.

Its a 96 Dodge Grand Caravan. Does anyone have any ideas?
 
Originally posted by: Zanix
So it begins to start but then quits right away?
Click to expand...

It never really starts, it feels like it is just about to start...likes it cant make it over the hill.
 
Connect a plug temporarily to the ignition coil, bypassing the cap/rotor. If you get consistent spark from a plug when placed near the engine block, but spark is inconsistent from the coil -> cap/rotor -> plug adjacent to block, replace cap/rotor. Should be cheap and not very hard/inaccessible.
 
Originally posted by: AStar617
Connect a plug temporarily to the ignition coil, bypassing the cap/rotor. If you get consistent spark from a plug when placed near the engine block, but spark is inconsistent from the coil -> cap/rotor -> plug adjacent to block, replace cap/rotor. Should be cheap and not very hard/inaccessible.
Click to expand...

Sorry, probably should have mentioned this in the original post but this is the 3.8L without a distributor

your battery is dead. jump the car and it will start. you will probably need a new battery soon.
Click to expand...

Battery has gone dead trying to diagnose this problem but it was working fine before this started and it cant be the problem. Doesnt start off a jump.
 
Originally posted by: MrBlahh
Originally posted by: Zanix
So it begins to start but then quits right away?
Click to expand...

It never really starts, it feels like it is just about to start...likes it cant make it over the hill.
Click to expand...

I'm still confused. So it'll turn over but there's no fire?
 
Originally posted by: Baked
I only buy and own Japanese cars, never had problems.
Click to expand...


I own a japanese car and i can't keep the pile of crap out of the shop:

it has 25k miles on it and the following has happened:

stress cracked windshield
front struts went bad
rear bushings wore out
subwoofer blew
some trim pieces have been replaced due to accelerated wear
paint began to flake away, had to have the car repainted in the front ;/.
instrument cluster has a nasty buzz
cover on rear speaker has a nasty buzz
Wheel speed sensor on rear tire faulted out causing the ABS to stop working - had to have it replaced.

all that in 25k miles. imho japanese cars suck.
 
Originally posted by: MrBlahh
Originally posted by: AStar617
Connect a plug temporarily to the ignition coil, bypassing the cap/rotor. If you get consistent spark from a plug when placed near the engine block, but spark is inconsistent from the coil -> cap/rotor -> plug adjacent to block, replace cap/rotor. Should be cheap and not very hard/inaccessible.
Click to expand...

Sorry, probably should have mentioned this in the original post but this is the 3.8L without a distributor

your battery is dead. jump the car and it will start. you will probably need a new battery soon.
Click to expand...

Battery has gone dead trying to diagnose this problem but it was working fine before this started and it cant be the problem. Doesnt start off a jump.
Click to expand...



make sure you scratch the terminals of the battery, corrosion can build up and prevent an electrical connection.

if the car isn't turning over ( which is what i'm gathering from your description ) then there are two possibilities:

1 - not enough juice
2 - starter is bad
 
Originally posted by: Zanix
Originally posted by: MrBlahh
Originally posted by: Zanix
So it begins to start but then quits right away?
Click to expand...

It never really starts, it feels like it is just about to start...likes it cant make it over the hill.
Click to expand...

I'm still confused. So it'll turn over but there's no fire?
Click to expand...

hmm, not trying to confuse anyone. Its kinda hard to explain. I dont think its turning over. When you first try to start it after its been sititng for a while it for maybe half a second feels like it is going to start but doesnt. Since it is only getting one spark maybe each cylinder is firing once.

 
Originally posted by: MrBlahh
Originally posted by: Zanix
Originally posted by: MrBlahh
Originally posted by: Zanix
So it begins to start but then quits right away?
Click to expand...

It never really starts, it feels like it is just about to start...likes it cant make it over the hill.
Click to expand...

I'm still confused. So it'll turn over but there's no fire?
Click to expand...

hmm, not trying to confuse anyone. Its kinda hard to explain. I dont think its turning over. When you first try to start it after its been sititng for a while it for maybe half a second feels like it is going to start but doesnt. Since it is only getting one spark maybe each cylinder is firing once.
Click to expand...


do you hear a clicking sound like something is tapping on the engine?
 
Originally posted by: MrBlahh
Originally posted by: AMDMaddness
Since its a dodge.. Im guessing a fuel pump.
Click to expand...
Any easy way to test that? There seems to be fuel pressure.
Click to expand...

How do you know there is pressure? Have you checked at the schrader on the rail, or are you going by wet plugs? Also, *if* your fuel pump has a ballast resistor, you could bypass it and see if it starts, which would indicate the pump is bad.
 
timing belt bad? 🙁

I had a Caravan that the timing belt broke. 🙁

front wheel drive cars suck.

much easier to work on old style rear wheel drive

1995 Chevy Van 5.0 V8
282,000 miles FTW.


I really liked the Caravan too,
the second time the timing belt went it pissed me off.
 
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