I have a 2002 Dodge Caravan. It just wont start. I can hear the crank but the moment it is to start the engine there is a nasty cackle sound kind of like when you keep turning the key when the car is already started. SEE THE VIDEO.

It has been parked for some time but not 2 months ago we did start it up fine. A couple weeks ago i went to start the car and discovered the battery discharged again. I recharged it but noticed a bad odor creeping into the car possibly from the battery so stopped and replaced the battery. And here we are today. The car sounds like it is cranking and ready to start but then the cackle sound preventing the start.

How do i troubleshoot this? Thx for any tips. Happy to post more vids or pics.


UPDATE:

Now when i go to start the car there is no turn over. All i can hear once the key is in OFF is from beneath the hood, clicking noises coming from the passenger side of the engine and clicks coming from the fuse box area. The only way to stop the clicks is for me to remove the battery cables. The click noises are coming from the indicated RED areas in the pic below...

 

From what I hear, You may have a broken flex plate. Did you scan the vehicle for codes?

 

That clicking sound maybe the cam sensor.

 

Yep, your flex plate is broken. STOP trying to start it. Get a new crank sensor while your at it.

 

Have to say I'm curious abour this one. Based on my non-professional DIY experience, the first thing I'd guess on this would be something going on with the starter. Perhaps worn contacts cutting out the starter just before the engine is about to fire. But you techs have seen lots of these in the past, and I'm not doubting what you're saying about the flexplate. Just trying to learn something here, and find out what it is about that video sound the OP posted that tells you it can't be a problem with the starter.

 

I have a pic of one somewhere. It's a freak show. Lemme find it when I get in this evening.

 

cv2003, That would be true for most folks. But TN and myself are working dodge techs. And we see this a lot. Think of it this way. The flex plate has small windows around the plate. The windows will line up to the crankshaft sensor and the sensor is a magnet and when the open part of the window passes the sensor, then you get your spark and the timing is in sync. If the plate is broken, then the windows won't line up and the starter sounds like grinding.

 

One other thing that's puzzling to me is that the OP didn't mention anything about this van dying, or having any problems the last time it was running. So, assuming the flex plate was ok the last time it was turned off, that must mean it broke right at the time was being started. Are broken flex plates during start-up something you guys have seen happen much in the past?

 

This is where they split..in the center. The flexplate stays put via the torque converter bolts. The center stays put via the crank bolts. Eventually they will roll enough to separate and your crank signal will be lost. The sound his is making is likely the outside grabbing then skipping over the inside.

 

Thanks for the information guys!