2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport: Ignition Starter Problem
 

About half the time, when I try to start my van, the key
won't turn in the ignition. There is a crank, there is fuel injection,
there is also engine turnover. But for some reason the "magic" does
not occur.

I tried both keys that came with the van
(bought new), as well as a spare. Interior lights, head lights will
work. Equipment lights, clock etc do display; everything works as it
should pre-ignition and post-ignition.

I checked with a mechanic - and he stated it might be a security
problem with the "keys." However, after checking with Chrysler
Support, there is no malfunction with the security light/l.e.d. and the
key is recognized by the Engine on-board computer. Remote unlock/lock
works and the panic button also works.

Van has 3.3 V-6 engine, 150k.
Checked for recalls was negative; did not locate any service bulletins.

Any suggestions?

2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport: Ignition Starter Problem
 

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> About half the time, when I try to start my van, the key
> won't turn in the ignition. There is a crank, there is fuel injection,
> there is also engine turnover. But for some reason the "magic" does
> not occur.

Makes no sense, you say half the time the "key wont turn in the ignition"
but yet "there is crank. there is fuel and there is engine turnover.
How can there be crank,fuel and turn over if the key wont turn???? which is
it?


Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech
>
> I tried both keys that came with the van
> (bought new), as well as a spare. Interior lights, head lights will
> work. Equipment lights, clock etc do display; everything works as it
> should pre-ignition and post-ignition.
>
> I checked with a mechanic - and he stated it might be a security
> problem with the "keys." However, after checking with Chrysler
> Support, there is no malfunction with the security light/l.e.d. and the
> key is recognized by the Engine on-board computer. Remote unlock/lock
> works and the panic button also works.
>
> Van has 3.3 V-6 engine, 150k.
> Checked for recalls was negative; did not locate any service bulletins.
>
> Any suggestions?
>

2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport: Ignition Starter Problem
 

Thanks for the reply. That was my mistake in the wording.

-the key turns 100% of the time.
-the starter "cranks"
-fuel injection works as "i can smell it"
-all the battery operated equipment works in the car: headlights,
interior lights, radio, dashboard etc.
-the engine light is non-present.
-no security problem as both dodge's wireless remote locks/unlocks and
panic alarm also works fine.
-the security LED turns off after 3 seconds as it should.

-the only thing that remains is 50% of the time the "magic" happens,
and the other 50% it doesnt.
-its the 50% non-magic period, where i am stuck in a parking lot for
10-15mins.

hope this clarifies it more.

thanks.



maxpower wrote:
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > About half the time, when I try to start my van, the key
> > won't turn in the ignition. There is a crank, there is fuel injection,
> > there is also engine turnover. But for some reason the "magic" does
> > not occur.
>
> Makes no sense, you say half the time the "key wont turn in the ignition"
> but yet "there is crank. there is fuel and there is engine turnover.
> How can there be crank,fuel and turn over if the key wont turn???? which is
> it?
>
>
> Glenn Beasley
> Chrysler Tech
> >
> > I tried both keys that came with the van
> > (bought new), as well as a spare. Interior lights, head lights will
> > work. Equipment lights, clock etc do display; everything works as it
> > should pre-ignition and post-ignition.
> >
> > I checked with a mechanic - and he stated it might be a security
> > problem with the "keys." However, after checking with Chrysler
> > Support, there is no malfunction with the security light/l.e.d. and the
> > key is recognized by the Engine on-board computer. Remote unlock/lock
> > works and the panic button also works.
> >
> > Van has 3.3 V-6 engine, 150k.
> > Checked for recalls was negative; did not locate any service bulletins.
> >
> > Any suggestions?
> >

2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport: Ignition Starter Problem
 

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thanks for the reply. That was my mistake in the wording.
>
> -the key turns 100% of the time.
> -the starter "cranks"
> -fuel injection works as "i can smell it"
> -all the battery operated equipment works in the car: headlights,
> interior lights, radio, dashboard etc.
> -the engine light is non-present.
> -no security problem as both dodge's wireless remote locks/unlocks and
> panic alarm also works fine.
> -the security LED turns off after 3 seconds as it should.
>
> -the only thing that remains is 50% of the time the "magic" happens,
> and the other 50% it doesnt.
> -its the 50% non-magic period, where i am stuck in a parking lot for
> 10-15mins.
>
> hope this clarifies it more.
>
> thanks.
>
>
>
> maxpower wrote:
> > > wrote in message
> > oups.com...
> > > About half the time, when I try to start my van, the key
> > > won't turn in the ignition. There is a crank, there is fuel
injection,
> > > there is also engine turnover. But for some reason the "magic" does
> > > not occur.
> >
> > Makes no sense, you say half the time the "key wont turn in the
ignition"
> > but yet "there is crank. there is fuel and there is engine turnover.
> > How can there be crank,fuel and turn over if the key wont turn???? which
is
> > it?
> >
> >
> > Glenn Beasley
> > Chrysler Tech
> > >
> > > I tried both keys that came with the van
> > > (bought new), as well as a spare. Interior lights, head lights will
> > > work. Equipment lights, clock etc do display; everything works as it
> > > should pre-ignition and post-ignition.
> > >
> > > I checked with a mechanic - and he stated it might be a security
> > > problem with the "keys." However, after checking with Chrysler
> > > Support, there is no malfunction with the security light/l.e.d. and
the
> > > key is recognized by the Engine on-board computer. Remote unlock/lock
> > > works and the panic button also works.
> > >
> > > Van has 3.3 V-6 engine, 150k.
> > > Checked for recalls was negative; did not locate any service
bulletins.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions?
> > >
>

I would take it to the dealer and have them pull all if any fault codes from
the SKIM module to see if it is related to Sentry Key problem.
They can also have the scan tool connected to monitor all sensors and
switches to see which one is possibly causing the problem.

My guess is a fault code set for a transponder mismatch in the SKIM module.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport: Ignition Starter Problem
 

Thank you for the reply.

I took it to a dealership and the all the fault codes were cleared from
the Engine Control Unit. The mechanic told me to use the back-up key.
After utilizing it for a couple of tries, it problem resurfaced again.
Is it possible to clear SKIM module manually by turning the key from
the "off" to "on" position a number of times?

If there are no more possible suggestions, I would regretfully go and
get a full inspection.

Thank you for all your help.

> I would take it to the dealer and have them pull all if any fault codes from
> the SKIM module to see if it is related to Sentry Key problem.
> They can also have the scan tool connected to monitor all sensors and
> switches to see which one is possibly causing the problem.
>
> My guess is a fault code set for a transponder mismatch in the SKIM module.
>
> Glenn Beasley
> Chrysler Tech

> > Thanks for the reply. That was my mistake in the wording.
> >
> > -the key turns 100% of the time.
> > -the starter "cranks"
> > -fuel injection works as "i can smell it"
> > -all the battery operated equipment works in the car: headlights,
> > interior lights, radio, dashboard etc.
> > -the engine light is non-present.
> > -no security problem as both dodge's wireless remote locks/unlocks and
> > panic alarm also works fine.
> > -the security LED turns off after 3 seconds as it should.
> >
> > -the only thing that remains is 50% of the time the "magic" happens,
> > and the other 50% it doesnt.
> > -its the 50% non-magic period, where i am stuck in a parking lot for
> > 10-15mins.
> >
> > hope this clarifies it more.
> >
> > thanks.
> >
> >
> > > > About half the time, when I try to start my van, the key
> > > > won't turn in the ignition. There is a crank, there is fuel
> injection,
> > > > there is also engine turnover. But for some reason the "magic" does
> > > > not occur.
> > >
> > > Makes no sense, you say half the time the "key wont turn in the
> ignition"
> > > but yet "there is crank. there is fuel and there is engine turnover.
> > > How can there be crank,fuel and turn over if the key wont turn???? which
> is
> > > it?
> > >
> > >
> > > Glenn Beasley
> > > Chrysler Tech
> > > >
> > > > I tried both keys that came with the van
> > > > (bought new), as well as a spare. Interior lights, head lights will
> > > > work. Equipment lights, clock etc do display; everything works as it
> > > > should pre-ignition and post-ignition.
> > > >
> > > > I checked with a mechanic - and he stated it might be a security
> > > > problem with the "keys." However, after checking with Chrysler
> > > > Support, there is no malfunction with the security light/l.e.d. and
> the
> > > > key is recognized by the Engine on-board computer. Remote unlock/lock
> > > > works and the panic button also works.
> > > >
> > > > Van has 3.3 V-6 engine, 150k.
> > > > Checked for recalls was negative; did not locate any service
> bulletins.
> > > >
> > > > Any suggestions?
> > > >
> >
>

2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport: Ignition Starter Problem
 

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Thank you for the reply.
>
> I took it to a dealership and the all the fault codes were cleared from
> the Engine Control Unit. The mechanic told me to use the back-up key.
> After utilizing it for a couple of tries, it problem resurfaced again.
> Is it possible to clear SKIM module manually by turning the key from
> the "off" to "on" position a number of times?
>
> If there are no more possible suggestions, I would regretfully go and
> get a full inspection.
>
> Thank you for all your help.
>
> > I would take it to the dealer and have them pull all if any fault codes
from
> > the SKIM module to see if it is related to Sentry Key problem.
> > They can also have the scan tool connected to monitor all sensors and
> > switches to see which one is possibly causing the problem.
> >
> > My guess is a fault code set for a transponder mismatch in the SKIM
module.
> >
> > Glenn Beasley
> > Chrysler Tech
>
> > > Thanks for the reply. That was my mistake in the wording.
> > >
> > > -the key turns 100% of the time.
> > > -the starter "cranks"
> > > -fuel injection works as "i can smell it"
> > > -all the battery operated equipment works in the car: headlights,
> > > interior lights, radio, dashboard etc.
> > > -the engine light is non-present.
> > > -no security problem as both dodge's wireless remote locks/unlocks and
> > > panic alarm also works fine.
> > > -the security LED turns off after 3 seconds as it should.
> > >
> > > -the only thing that remains is 50% of the time the "magic" happens,
> > > and the other 50% it doesnt.
> > > -its the 50% non-magic period, where i am stuck in a parking lot for
> > > 10-15mins.
> > >
> > > hope this clarifies it more.
> > >
> > > thanks.
> > >
> > >
> > > > > About half the time, when I try to start my van, the key
> > > > > won't turn in the ignition. There is a crank, there is fuel
> > injection,
> > > > > there is also engine turnover. But for some reason the "magic"
does
> > > > > not occur.
> > > >
> > > > Makes no sense, you say half the time the "key wont turn in the
> > ignition"
> > > > but yet "there is crank. there is fuel and there is engine turnover.
> > > > How can there be crank,fuel and turn over if the key wont turn????
which
> > is
> > > > it?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Glenn Beasley
> > > > Chrysler Tech
> > > > >
> > > > > I tried both keys that came with the van
> > > > > (bought new), as well as a spare. Interior lights, head lights
will
> > > > > work. Equipment lights, clock etc do display; everything works as
it
> > > > > should pre-ignition and post-ignition.
> > > > >
> > > > > I checked with a mechanic - and he stated it might be a security
> > > > > problem with the "keys." However, after checking with Chrysler
> > > > > Support, there is no malfunction with the security light/l.e.d.
and
> > the
> > > > > key is recognized by the Engine on-board computer. Remote
unlock/lock
> > > > > works and the panic button also works.
> > > > >
> > > > > Van has 3.3 V-6 engine, 150k.
> > > > > Checked for recalls was negative; did not locate any service
> > bulletins.
> > > > >
> > > > > Any suggestions?
> > > > >
> > >
> >
>
Always get the codes in writing that were found. I take it they didn't scan
the SKIM module for any codes?
You cannot get or clear codes from the SKIM Module