HELP! Starting issue on Dodge Grand Caravan

[Frank]

Its been running perfectly, but I noticed it sounded like the battery has been getting a little weaker this past week, but it still started easy. I just figured it was the heat. Wednesday my wife said it would not start when she tried to leave work. When I first jumped in the car Wednesday, it did this. I turned off the key and tried it again and it started perfectly normal. I shut it off and tried again and its been like this ever since. First thing I did was take the cables off and clean it up real good, no difference. It wouldn’t even take a jump start from a jumper box or my truck. Got a new battery and it made no difference. AAA came out and even tried to jump it from his F450 diesel and no difference. I had to leave it with a shop 20 miles away. I figured its got to be the starter. The shop changed the starter and still no difference. He said he checked the grounds, tried another new battery, and it still does the same thing. Its an 06 Grand Caravan with a 3.3 V6, 90k. It hasn't given us any problems before this.

So let me throw this out there...

The A/C compressor locked up a few weeks ago. The rubber mounted flat plate that engages the clutch has been banging around there ever since. I reached down and felt of it the other day and aside from rattling and slight scraping when first starting, I didn't think it would be a big problem until I could afford to get the A/C fixed. Now I wonder if it somehow seized to the outer pulley somehow and the starter is tryng to turn that locked up compressor too?

[2011GT]

If only we had a garage forum... :-)

Remove the belt and see if you can spin the compressor

[Whiteboy]

Its a Dodge van thats the problem.

[Hmbre97]

Its been running perfectly, but I noticed it sounded like the battery has been getting a little weaker this past week, but it still started easy. I just figured it was the heat. Wednesday my wife said it would not start when she tried to leave work. When I first jumped in the car Wednesday, it did this. I turned off the key and tried it again and it started perfectly normal. I shut it off and tried again and its been like this ever since. First thing I did was take the cables off and clean it up real good, no difference. It wouldn’t even take a jump start from a jumper box or my truck. Got a new battery and it made no difference. AAA came out and even tried to jump it from his F450 diesel and no difference. I had to leave it with a shop 20 miles away. I figured its got to be the starter. The shop changed the starter and still no difference. He said he checked the grounds, tried another new battery, and it still does the same thing. Its an 06 Grand Caravan with a 3.3 V6, 90k. It hasn't given us any problems before this.

So let me throw this out there...

The A/C compressor locked up a few weeks ago. The rubber mounted flat plate that engages the clutch has been banging around there ever since. I reached down and felt of it the other day and aside from rattling and slight scraping when first starting, I didn't think it would be a big problem until I could afford to get the A/C fixed. Now I wonder if it somehow seized to the outer pulley somehow and the starter is tryng to turn that locked up compressor too?

Seriously? You let a shop change the starter and all that other bullshit before bypassing the compressor?

[Frank]

Seriously? You let a shop change the starter and all that other bullshit before bypassing the compressor?

Did you read the description? My checks were sound. It didnt occur to me about the A/C until today.

Dude, the car is 20 miles away and there is no way in hell i could take off work any this week not to mention trying to work on it in this heat. I did what I had to do after I tried any thing that made sense at the time. Besides, they don't make a bypass belt for it.

Mechanic just called and confirmed my suspicions. The A/C pulley seized (even though the clutch was no longer engaging and the belt was dragging over the pulley. Guess I will be getting the A/C repaired sooner than I thought.

[Hmbre97]

Did you read the description? My checks were sound. It didnt occur to me about the A/C until today.

Dude, the car is 20 miles away and there is no way in hell i could take off work any this week not to mention trying to work on it in this heat. I did what I had to do after I tried any thing that made sense at the time. Besides, they don't make a bypass belt for it.

Mechanic just called and confirmed my suspicions. The A/C pulley seized (even though the clutch was no longer engaging and the belt was dragging over the pulley. Guess I will be getting the A/C repaired sooner than I thought.

I read the thread. I was going under the assumption that you knew about the locked up compressor all along during all of this. My bad.

[4king]

Your letting your wife drive a dodge caravan without ac? How many children do you have