I had an odd problem with the family '06 Magnum SXT tonight. My wife was with our son in the car while I was in a restaurant paying for the meal we just ate. She had the key turned one notch forward in the ignition, listening to the radio. Well when I get into the car and turn the key, the car won't crank. After about four or five turns of the key it finally turns over and so we drive home. I've got a multimeter, so I tested the voltage of the battery with the car running and it's at about 13.7 volts. With the car not running the battery reads about 12.6 volts. All seems to be pretty normal. I continue to experiment with the Magnum and it seems like when I turn the key, I have to hold it in the start position about 3 full seconds before the engine even attempts to turn over. This happens a good 5 times. After I crank it the last time I drive the Magnum around the block and park back in the garage. After that it appears to crank every time with no problems. Anybody have an idea what may be going one. My brain is bouncing between the Sentry key stuff, the starter, ignition, battery and so forth. I'm really seeming to lean toward something odd with the computer though, like some kind of odd glitch with the computer in the car. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

Do you have alot of keys on your key chain? I have had a simular problem with a 91 Toyota Camery. Took it into the shop and was told the ignition, from having to much weight on the key chain causing the springs inside to stretch which was causing it not to catch correctly. It has been over 10yrs now since then so the ol brain is a lil foggy. Might be it or just a shot in the dark.

Best of luck

 

Kburns1982,
I'll put my money on the Computer theory. Though the Micro-Switch theory sounds good too... Let us know what you find out.

 

In case you guys were wondering, I took the car to the dealership after about 5 days of this problem on and off. It was a purge solenoid that had gone bad. I'm not totally sure what it was all about, I'm just glad it's fixed now. Thanks for the help guys.

 

I wonder what the purge solenoid purged.Anyway good news indeed. I'm glad you got it resolved.

 

I had trouble understanding the guy because he had a thick accent, but I googled it and it seems to indicate the purge solenoid purges gas tank vapors to the intake by the edge of the throttle. Kinda makes sense[:-]

 

You are correct the purge solenoid when activated draws gas tank vapors to the engine to burn. It reduces hydrocarbon emissions by not letting fuel in the tank evaporate to atmosphere.
I'm not sure the correlation to a no-start condition. It would be the last thing I'd think of. Normally a failed purge valve would be accompanied by a glowing check engine light when the car is running. I suppose stranger things have happened. I'm just wondering if they "switched stories" on you- kinda like the guy who goes in for a mole removal and gets his arm removed while the guy in for an arm removal gets his mole removed. Just thinking.

 

I have a 05,RT and a simular proble happend to me. The key would work the ***. but would not turn the engine. In my case my wife was with me and I tryed her key and the car started and on the way home I stopped at the dealers and explained the problem. The shop forman said that I was the first one he had seen this happen to. He also (formen) said that the mechanical part of the key did not start the car. there is aelectronic chip in the key body and that chip sens a signle to the computer to start the car. The mechanic used my key and it started right up. So just for insurance I ordered another key to keep in the car so if it hapen again and my wife is not with me I can get started. As luck would have it my key works just fine so far. Just one other thing you may want to check your battery(in the key case) once in a while.