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Chrysler Repair/re:1996 town and country starting problem

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Expert: - 8/6/2011


Question
Hello Roland, thank you for the speedy response yesterday. I have done some more work on my starting problem. here is what I've done: I removed the starter and the battery and had them both tested at the parts store(auto zone) they were both perfectly fine, i cleaned all connections at the starter, battery, and main fuse box, found severe corrosion on the positive cable and replaced, found minimal corrosion on the neg. cable and terminal end and replaced the terminal end as well as removed corroded portion of the cable. i also checked the starter relay which was in good order. So what now? Still having the same problem( loud rapid clicking/clunking noise and no starter action) oh and i also tried starting it in park and neutral.

Answer
Hi Joel,
You might try turning the crank shaft by hand using a socket and handle on the crank pulley bolt, just enough to expose a different section of teeth on the flex plate to the rotation of the bendix. It would also allow you to check that the crankshaft isn't jammed for some reason. If you feel certain that you have a good red wire connection from the battery to the starter, then the remaining thing to try would be to jump a wire from that lead to the starter solenoid which would test whether there is an issue with the relay-to-solenoid brown wire. Also check the engine ground wire from the rear of the block to the - post clamp as it might be loose so you aren't getting a good current return path.
Roland  

Chrysler Repair

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Roland Finston

Expertise

I specialize in Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth cars, minivans, and SUV's for the model years 1982-2008 based upon my 50-year DIY experience, factory shop manuals and wiring diagrams. I offer fast repair advice to help you minimize repair costs by helping you diagnose and do it yourself. Problems with electronically controlled engines and transmissions as well as body wiring problems are my specialty.

I take questions one at a time between 8am and 10pm CT and attempt to answer within 20 minutes. "Maxed Out" means I am answering another question of otherwise busy, so try again later.

There are answers on file to more than sixteen thousand Chrysler questions at your finger tips: put a few key words in the "find" box (above) or click on "view past answers" for a chronological list of my q and a's. Don't use "Add to this answer" if you still have a question...ask it. As to trucks and jeeps I only have manuals for the '04-'06 model years.

Experience

Five decades as a 'do-it-yourselfer' on domestic and imported cars

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Yahoo Autos Group called The Chrysler Lebaron Club (co-moderator)

Education/Credentials
Degrees in Physics/bruised knuckles.

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"Top expert of 2010" and "2011" at Allexperts. Among top 50 experts for years 2006-2009 at Allexperts.

Quickest "average response time" at Allexperts (currently no. 1).

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