Expert: Roland Finston - 8/25/2011

Question
QUESTION: My 2000 Chrysler LHS 3.5 L will not start after heavier dew,rain or when its really hot outside. After about of week of not starting, I had my car towed to a repair shop.  They could not find anything wrong and she started right up.  Two weeks later will not start, it just clicks again. Sometimes it will start after a few times of trying. HELP!!!!!

ANSWER: Hi Kimberly,
When you say it 'just clicks', does that mean that the starter motor is not turning the engine? If so, then either the battery is not charging well, either due to age or possibly a problem with the alternator, or the starter motor itself is getting worn brushes and needs to be rebuilt.
That is one set of issues. On the other hand, if the starter does turn over the engine but it won't start, then that is a different problem. So tell me which it is now, and which was the problem just before it went to the repair shop. How old is the battery (if you look at the battery it will haave some punch outs that show the month and year of purchase)?
When you say it will start after a few times of trying, do you mean it clicks every time and then once in a while it acturally cranks over the engine, or do you mean that it cranks the engine all the time, but most of the time it won't 'catch'?
If it is turning over by the starter motor but not catching and running then try the ignition key:" on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the odometer window in the instrument cluster to see the mileage reading disappear and in its place a 4-digit number preceded by a P. Let me know that number.
Roland
PS Please 'rate' my answer and where you see the question about a nomination of me to be 'volunteer of the month' consider giving a 'yes' response. Thank you

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When I say it clicks, meaning it doesn't turn over at all. All I hear is click, then sometime after a few tries it turns over and runs fine for a couple of days even weeks.  Then a little dew,rain or really hot weather comes and my car will not start again.  My battery is brand new Die Heart, I recently took it back to Sears have it tested and it was fine.  The repair shop said it could not find anything wrong and it started right up with no problems. They keep it for 3 days, brought it back home and it ran for 2 weeks.  Now she is sitting in the yard and will not turn over. I try it today 8/25/2011 and it started right up with no problems...Help!!!!

Answer
Hi Kimberly,
The starter motor not responding to the clicking sound means that either:
1. the starter motor/solenoid unit is flakey due to wear on the brushes or the solenoid switch and that would be repaired by having the starter motor rebuilt/replaced or,
2. the fat red wire from the battery to the starter motor is not tightly connected at the motor or the battery +post where the clamp attaches is corroded or loose, or the grounding wire from the transmission to a point on the inner fender surface near the electrical box on the driver side of the engine compartment is loose/corroded at either end.
2. wiring can be checked over quickly by a mechanic or yourself/friend so start with that.
1. can be done by a mechanic or yourself/friend by getting under the vehicle (after jacking it up and supporting on a jack stand) and then remove starter motor and have the starter motor rebuilt at a shop that does electrical rebuilding or by buying a rebuilt motor at a parts store.
You can also verify that the problem is the motor itself if you can tap on the side of the starter motor with a hammer and that momentarily solves the problem for then, but you have to use that technique to make it connect regularly.
Roland
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