Chrysler Town and Country won't start

[RANDALL25]

2004 Chrysler Town and Country won't start. Lights, radio and horn works just fine. You can hear the clicking from the starter but the car makes no sound when you try to turn it over

[carriedi]

does it go: click click click click click click, when you hold it in the start position? Or do you hear just one click each time you put it in the start position?

Many clicks means you don't have enough battery current to hold the solenoid down. A jump should get you started to go and get a new battery (or have your charging system checked)

One click, and then nothing else happens, usually means the starter solenoid is not making contact across to the electric motor in the starter. Most cases, a replacement starter.

The lights, radio... all of the electronics don't use much power from the battery. That's why most fuses are from 2 up to 30 amps. the starter will draw upwards from 150 amps (possibly higher to get started moving then reduce down as cranking)

[RANDALL25]

It only clicks once when turning key

[RANDALL25]

When I turn the key I hear nothing but if you lift the hood you can hear the starter

[carriedi]

if you turn the key to start and the starter clicks and then nothing else happens, it's usually going to be a starter.

If your starter is accessible, have someone turn the key to the start position while you use something to tap on the starter. If you can get it to start, take it to a shop for a new starter or just go out and buy a new starter and install it. (make sure you have a good battery cable from the battery to the starter...) It could be a possibility that the big positive battery cable that goes to the starter doesn't have a good connection to the starter but, it's more likely the starter.

[RANDALL25]

We tried tapping the starter yesterday and nothing.

[carriedi]

do you have a 12V test light?

you can verify by checking the big battery cable at the starter. It should turns the test light bright. then test the starter signal at the small wire to the starter. It will be a little bit harder because of the connector. But if you can get to it, check to see if it lights up the test light when the key is in the start position. If you have a bright test light for battery cable at the starter and bright test light at the starter solenoid signal wire, then I would say you have a starter that has gone out.

if you don't have a bright test light at the small starter solenoid wire to the starter check the starter relay in your Integrated power module (fuse box) on the left side of your engine compartment. when someone turns the key to start, do you hear it click? If you put your finger on the relay can you feel it click? you can try switching the relay with another relay that has the same numbers on it and see if the starter cranks then.

[RANDALL25]

You can hear the clicking from the fuse box. We tried that as well. I don't have a 12V test light though

[carriedi]

without some kind of tool to check for power it will be difficult to find your problem. you should find someone locally that can check these things out for you.

[dw85745]

Personally I would check the battery first. If the battery is over 3 years old OR your in cold weather, most likely the battery.
If you have a VOM or DVOM, check if battery has greater than 12.6 volts. If lower, < 12.0 then battery.

[dw85745]

Don't have a 12V test light.
Pull the license plate light bulb, solder or tape a couple wires to the bulb, and use it.

[GUEST]

Same one click noise and also not moving when shifted into neutral. I replaced the starter and transmission already.