Expert: Roland Finston - 12/9/2011

Question
About 2 1/2 weeks ago this red circle light showed up on my dashboard. Nothing else happened at that time, until recently. At first it would hesitate to start and when it would get cold outside I would usually have to have my van jumped. So I thought maybe it could be the battery. Took the old battery in and got it exchanged and put the new one in and then my van did nothing, not even with trying to jump it. Had it towed to a garage that deals with chrysler and they checked out the not starting problem and they said that i needed a new starter. I had told them about the light and they told me that with a new starter that it would run. Picked up my van, started fine. Stopped at a few places before going home and this morning it would not start. It would try to, but it was not catching(if that makes any sense). I paid $430 for that and then it doesnt even start the next day. The red circle light was still on last night. My keyless entry would not even unlock the doors this morning, but last night it did. My headlights also lit up when i tried starting the van this morning.I have a 2001 chrysler town & country v6 3.8. Obviously this didnt help the situation. I am so frustrated that I paid all that money and for what? I am a single mom and would really appreciate any advice you can give me.

Answer
Hi Cindy,
Can you tell me for certain that the red light is specifically for the security system and that it is located in the 'message center' of the dash board? Do you happen to have the owner's manual?
When you try to start it, does the engine run for a couple of seconds and then die. Or does it not run (catch) at all? Or does the starter not respond?
Have you tried to use the ignition key to unlock the driver door instead of the remote fob?
Have you tried to use the ignition key to unlock the passenger door?
In what manner did the headlights light this morning when you tried the starter: flash once, flash repeatedly, or 'on' continuously until you turned them off?
Do you have another ignition key you could use to try to start the engine?
Does the remote still not lock or unlock the doors?
I am sorry to ask so many questions but it will help to focus on what is the problem.
When you try the starter, does the engine turnover about at the typical speed as when it was  working properly in the past?
Roland
PS There is a fuse located in the power box in the engine compartment that provides power to operate the door locks/key fob. It is #14, located at the front upper corner of the box next to a 'name brand speaker relay'. Go to that power box, open it, and look for that fuse and inspect it. You will find the box on the drive side, next to the inner fender, and it is mounted sideways with the lid latches on the top. Release those latches and you will find the fuse 14 at the front corner of the upper side of the box. See if its wire is unbroken. Also remove it for minute, and then replace it back in its socket to be sure it is making contact even if the wire appears to be unbroken.
For purposes of identification the fuse is 15 amp size and may be labelled I.O.D. which means it powers all sorts of things that come into play when the vehicle is locked up, like the door locks and the security system. Sorry for sending you all these revisions but I keep thinking of ideas that may be helpful. Thank you for the rating and nomination.
I will be 'out' in about an hour, and return about 5 hours later this late afternoon.