My 97 Caravan has developed a new monthly symptom. It will start fine throughout the day, until a day and time of it's choosing, it will not start. The starter motor does not activate. If I let it sit for 20-30 minutes it will start as normal. It will be fine for another month until this happens again. Yesterday I tried disconnecting the battery for a minutehoping the'brain' would reset, but it still didn't start until I let it sit a while. Luckily my '93 Caravan was up to the task of taking the family to dinner. After dinner the 97 started right up. Is there some kind of software update I need to have done or what ?

 

There are no updates that will be a "fix". You need to find out what your missing... If you say it wont "crank" - you need to find out if its the starter that is causing the issue - next time it does not start - turn your headlights on - and see if they dim when you try and "crank" it - if they dim, but it does not crank - or click - it could be a starter or connection to the starter.

If it cranks, but does not turn over - you need to check fuel and spark - and find out which one of the 2, or both, are missing/absent.

With your indication that the starter motor not activating - I would check my first suggestion above, and the wiring to the starter. Keep us posted.

Eric

 

Must have had a Ford starter motor, because I've only seen this happen on Ford's before. The next time it happened I smacked the starter motor on the back where the armature bearing would be, and it started.

 

Replace the starter. Its common for the starterto make a click sound when bushing are bad in the starter.