dead battery?

Follow the smaller positive battery wire to the under-hood fuse box and be sure that connection is clean and tight. Follow the smaller negative battery wire to the body and be sure that one is tight and not rusty. These guides can help us test the battery and then replace it if necessary.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-battery

Please run down these guides and report back.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

My husband forgot to turn the headlights off after using the van yesterday around 3pm and the van was not used again until this morning around 5am. When I turned the key the headlights and radio and internal lights were working but the car made a clicking noise and would not crank. I turned everything thing off and then waited a few minutes and tried again and it cranked up slowly. I left it running for about 20 minutes or so and then drove it about 2 hours before returning home. Once I got home I waited about 10 minutes and then I tried to crank it again and it cranked with no problems like normal. Is there need for me to worry about this? Could it just have been a low battery? Should I still get it checked out because of further problems?

I would still have the battery checked
most likely the light was the cause to drain it
most caravans have a battery safe relay where if you left the light on or other acc should turn them all off to save the battery from draining

The reason it was clicking is because their was to much strain on the battery with everything turned on ( Not enough power ). Nothing to worry about for next time as long as your alternator is working your battery should be good and charged.

Van starts sometimes and runs fine sometime it dies and sometimes it just clicks by fuse box whats wrong?

check battery for condition including load test. chec starter relay for corrosion on prongs. then have scanned for codes your tpim module may be screwing up

Electrical problem
2004 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Automatic 85000 miles

Went to start car and it did not turn over, made ticking noise and all the needles on gauges on dash went completely over to right then back to off posistion. Got boost start with no problems and drove it for 4 days without any futher problems. No warning lights appeared and unsure if internal light had been left on causing battery to run low.Today went out driving in the morning, went to go out again 2 hrs later and the same problem. No lights left on. No problems boost staring again and after running for 15 min continues to start fine. Has original battery. Is this caused by old battery or some other reason.

Hi there ,

Get the battery load tested, check all the terminals are clean & tight, and have the starter motor checked as the solenoid may be faulty.

mark (mhpautos)

My battery is not completely dead but doesn't have enough power to start engine. After jumped and car ran for about 20 minutes and when shut off didn't have enough battery power to start engine again. Had dealer check new battery of 1 month who reported battery still good. Break lights sometimes stick and dealer stated even if you don't see the break lights on but pedal on a bit it would still drain battery. What else could that be besides dead battery and do you really think by the break pedal sticking a bit but not enough to see actual break lights on, could drain the battery to make it dead enough to not have enough power to start car?? Thanks!

Dunno about the brake switch idea-why don't you just disconnect the brake switch -charge up the battery again and see what happens. If it works then its the brake switch-if not the problem is coming from somewhere else. Could be the alternator not putting out or the battery is not taking it-

I'd check for battery drain, track it down. Make sure the charging system is working ok. As far as the brake pedal, never heard of that, I guess anything is possible.

its cold and the starter just clicks

Are you using the correct grade of oil/vicosity? If so could be the starter, starter relay,transmission position switch and ignition switch assuming the battery condition and connections are good.

I can be driving along, and the engine cut off. No jerks, nothing, I only know because acceleration doesn't work. After I coast to a stop, it takes about 2 min to start it back up. During this time, the engine does not turn over, nothing happens when I turn the key. Nothing. Then after about 2 minutes it just starts and goes on as if nothing was wrong, and may not happen for another month. It only happens in cold weather, I though -10C but today it happened at 1C first thing in the morning. A little scary on a highway on a curve, amazed I am still alive! I am in a 2001 Dodge Caravan 3.3L V6 engine not Grand Basic SE with many miles. Has done it since 2003 but it is now my darling daughter who is affected and so now it matters. Chrysler has not been able to replicate or fix the problem. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it is mighty scary.

It sounds like you loose all power. Do the lights or anything work when this happens? Have you checked for power at the source, the battery? Make sure terminals are clean and tight and not corroded.

Let me know.

Joe

I can put the emergency flashers on while I am waiting for it to start back up, so electrical is good, it is just the engine that will not start

Have you been able to check to see if there is spark and fuel to the engine when this happens?

no, I am usually on a highway, my only thoughts are to get the hell out of the way and stay alive! To be perfectly acurate, I wouldn't know how to do this in any case.

I understand. Here are how to directions for testing both. All you will need is a fuel pressure gauge. Most parts stores will lend them to you.

https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_check_fuel_pressure.htm

https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_test_an_ignition_system.htm

Let me know if you have questions.

Joe

This should be done when it happens? Or can I do it anytime? This is a random event which nobody can duplicate and may not happen again for a day, or a week or if I am very lucky a couple of weeks. Depends on how cold it gets. Never happens during the summer.

It needs to be done when the problem occurs. That is when you will be able to identify if it is an electrical issue or fuel related.

Joe

Our car was running fine this am, drove it about 25 miles, parked. Went to leave, battery was dead. We jumped the battery off, and it cranked, but the dash lights blink, and the battery is not charging at all. We drove the 25 miles home, turned off car, wouldn't crank again.

Recomend replace battery probable cell short or sulfated.

Also, measure the voltage across the battery terminals. It should read around 12.6 volts with the engine not running, and must be between 13.75 and 14.75 volts when the engine is running. If less than 12 volts with the engine off, there's a shorted cell in the battery. If the voltage stays the same after the engine is started, the charging system is not working. There are some easy fixes, but you will need to troubleshoot the system first.

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