Expert: Roland Finston - 6/12/2011

Question
QUESTION: We did as you suggested on a prior post. We have no power from the brown wire to the starter. What can we do?

ANSWER: Hi Sally,That brown wire should show 12v when you try the starter of course. If it doesn't then either the starter relay in the box under the hood is not conducting through its internal switch points (if you feel/hear it click), or the fuse that brings power to the relay is blown, OR if the relay doesn't click then the fuse that powers the actuation coil of the relay is blown, or the park/neutral safety switch is off center (try moving the shifter slight to either side of the detent for P or N to check for that possibility), or the start position of the ignition switch is flaky. I assume that the battery is connected well to its clamps of course.
So let me know if the relay clicks or not, and what is the year of the vehicle so I can tell you which fuses to check and where to check for voltages at the starter relay socket that are important.
Roland
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Roland the battery is hooked uptight and good. Relay is clicking but not getting any voltage to the brown wire. 1998 Town and country. No loud click inside car when I turn the key. Thank u for ur help.

Answer
Hi Sally,
Check fuse 23 (40 amp, 5th counting from the rear of the box). If it is blown, then if your meter has an ohm function see what it reads between the 'cold' side of the fuse socket and ground when you move the key to run position. It should be 0.5 ohm or more because if not a replacement will blow again if you replace it. We can deal with that if so.
Similarly see what the reading is in the 'start' position of the key. If it too is at least 0.5 ohm then it is safe to put in a new fuse and try to see if you now get power on the brown wire, and if so then rehook the brown wire to the starter motor and see if it will start. Any reading of ohms below about 0.5 will draw so much current that the fuse will blow. Then we can try some other things to solve the 'short'. If the brown wire still is 'cold' then borrow the ac compressor clutch relay or the front blower motor relay or the 'spare' relay in between them if available. If that works then the problem is the starter motor relay's internal contacts and you need a new relay.
There may be a 'spsre' 40 amp fuse in #20 position, or borrow the 40 amp fus from # 27 (rear window defogger) if you don't have a new fuse to use.
Roland
PS Please 'rate' my answer. Thank you