Expert: Roland Finston - 8/24/2011

Question
Town and country minivan periodically doesn't turn over when the key is turned in the ignition.  Battery is fine and all the electronics work fine.  Turning the key completely off and then trying again sometimes works as well as taking the key out and flipping the key to the other side and turning it on.  When connection is made, it is as if nothing was wrong.  Starts right up.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Hi Jared,
I would start with the ignition switch proper which has a 5-pin plug. Verify that you get 12v on pin 3 pink/white wire in both the run and the start position, and similarly on pin 4 yellow wire in the start position. Then measure between pins 2 and 1 of the switch with the plug removed and notice whether there is  finite resistance shown at off, run and start positions and that the resistance decreases as you go from off to start. Then check the same pins when it won't work to try to isolate an issue with the switch.   The body control module is looking for those variable resistances and it does alot of the switching that the ignition switch has done in the past. Fuse 23 is the possible source for a flakey internal wire, so check that as well as it powers the switch. You can access the switch by removing the underdash panel and then the panel on the underside of the steering column.
Roland
PS Sorry for the delay but I just found your question in the 'pool' to which it had been referred by Kevin. Please 'rate' my answer. Thank you