My Dodge Caravan won't start (2017 SXT)

[jaye944]

any ideas lads ?

Just refused to start today,
all the power is fine, lights radio, auto doors etc all works fine, no warning lights on the ignition.

I get a really weird "clicking sound" loud, but it doesn't even try to turn over,
can't be the battery, had a look at the fueses and relays, pushed them all in,

We do have CAA, so I'll get them out, and car is under maint w'tee

anything else I can check, battery and terminals are mint !

[MGM135is]

I would guess battery. You can have enough juice to light up the dashboard but not enough to crank the motor. Do you have any items plugged in to one of those constantly on ports? I would try a jump start to rule it out.

[Now_Rudi]

Originally Posted by MGM135is

I would guess battery. You can have enough juice to light up the dashboard but not enough to crank the motor. Do you have any items plugged in to one of those constantly on ports? I would try a jump start to rule it out.

This.

[10"]

Definitely battery.

[jaye944]

hey guy's many thanks
I have a dashcam but that's not set to parking mode.

Wife doesn't do a lot of long run's so maybe that's causing an issue

I was also doing a long run once a week and some PUP's but not for a couple of months,
I guess we need to start that back up as well

I'll get a jump start though

thanks again

[jaye944]

needed a jump, had CAA come out, not used them for ages, so get my monies worth, they also tested the battery, and it was fine

txs all

he suspected battery not being charged up by too many short trips

[10"]

Originally Posted by jaye944

needed a jump, had CAA come out, not used them for ages, so get my monies worth, they also tested the battery, and it was fine

txs all

he suspected battery not being charged up by too many short trips

Glad it worked out man! Modern cars are very sensitive about power usage and even a moderately low battery wont allow them to turn on...heavy electronics on board these days too.

[MGM135is]

Bingo...good deal.

[JamesNoBrakes]

Try it now

[jaye944]

wife took it our for a short drive last night, advised to have all the electrics off including the headlights. I mean, why does she need headlights other drivers have theirs on (JOKE) lol

but, seriously, took it out for a drive, started fine today,
that'll learn her, I usually try and keep my miles down on the BM, and use her's for chores, but she's been bitching about that.

Even though I told her before the CAA guy came down, she argued with me.

Must say I enjoyed the look on her face when the CAA tech told her the VERY SAME THING

As already pointed out

new cars have SO many electric's you really can't get away with doing 10 or 12 clicks a day, and use all the AC/video etc etc

[Alfisti]

IMHO this is not the end of it.

My commute is 5km, really short, never had an issue.

Something is fundamentally wrong IMHO.

[jaye944]

TXS, and I do hope so.

But I'll keep an eye on it, when CAA came down did a battery and alternator check, which was one reason I wanted him to come down rather than jump it myself.

Any tips to check on, appreciated

Originally Posted by Alfisti

IMHO this is not the end of it.
My commute is 5km, really short, never had an issue.
Something is fundamentally wrong IMHO.

[Savageenterprise]

The real cause of it not starting is the fact that it’s Mopar.

[jaye944]

LOL

I had (when I first landed) a 12 year old POS Neon, that car was CERTAINLY in and out of the dealer like every 6 months or at least it felt like it (***MY FRIEND WORKS AT THE DEALER, so I got next to nothing on parts and labour****)

The things that went wrong where not major issues, or safety related.

BUT that car started every time for 3 winters straight, till I had to change the battery the car came with, when I bought it.

It was reliable enough to get me from my house, up the 407 (40km one way) every day for work, and a 100km round trip from my house to a radio station gig I have.

And wifes previous generation Caravan, was fine , from new for 7 years, till some stupid bint wrote it off.

So I'll disagree with you on that , on that note I'll grab my cap and coat and depart !

Originally Posted by Savageenterprise

The real cause of it not starting is the fact that it’s Mopar.

[Savageenterprise]

Originally Posted by jaye944

LOL

I had (when I first landed) a 12 year old POS Neon, that car was CERTAINLY in and out of the dealer like every 6 months or at least it felt like it (***MY FRIEND WORKS AT THE DEALER, so I got next to nothing on parts and labour****)

The things that went wrong where not major issues, or safety related.

BUT that car started every time for 3 winters straight, till I had to change the battery the car came with, when I bought it.

It was reliable enough to get me from my house, up the 407 (40km one way) every day for work, and a 100km round trip from my house to a radio station gig I have.

And wifes previous generation Caravan, was fine , from new for 7 years, till some stupid bint wrote it off.

So I'll disagree with you on that , on that note I'll grab my cap and coat and depart !

Lol, I just wanted to get a laugh out of you so mission accomplished.

Dodge does some things well with the vans being one of them. Realistically though it’s probably your battery. Also check your terminals for a loose connection

[jaye944]

cool ,

I did check the battery connections, all good, no rust or anything, I think he also checked how old the battery was, 2016 apparently, but yeah I'll keep an eye on it

cheers again man !

Originally Posted by Savageenterprise

Lol, I just wanted to get a laugh out of you so mission accomplished.

Dodge does some things well with the vans being one of them. Realistically though it’s probably your battery. Also check your terminals for a loose connection

[ptack]

The problem is it's a minivan.

[ScottSinger]

Originally Posted by jaye944

cool ,

I did check the battery connections, all good, no rust or anything, I think he also checked how old the battery was, 2016 apparently, but yeah I'll keep an eye on it

cheers again man !

also it's important to check the battery cables ability to secure to the battery posts. Seems some new batteries are using too thin a post and the cables need tightening after only a few months. Usually the symptoms are intermittent no-start problems.

[StatenEye]

Get a mobile battery jumper. I was working on the window regulator this weekend. I put the window up and down so many times I ran the battery down to where the car was only clicking and not starting (same as you). Grabbed my started and jumped it no problem. Then i hooked it up to the battery tenderer after i confirmed the battery was dead. I recommend you get your wife one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

I had mine in the car, not re-charged for a year and It still started the vehicle.

[jaye944]

cool txs guys