Car won't start when temp drops.

1997 Plymouth Voyager Mini-Van 2.4

OK,

This is a stumper. In the summer and spring my car starts perfectly, but
ONLY and I mean ONLY when the temp drops lower that lets say 50 then the
problem begins. I turn the key and absolutely nothing happens. I have to
turn the ignition key off then back on like 50 times then the battery will
kick in and the car will run fine. It is NOT the battery, it is NOT the
starter and it is NOT the ignition switch. When the car does not start
because of the I have to go outside, lift the hood and touch the battery
with a wire my mecahnic wired direct to the starte to start the car.

Whatever the hell this is it is MOST DEF related to the temp. I am baffled.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks in advance!!!

Josell

 

Sounds to me like your starter solenoid contacts are shot. The jumper
your mechanic put in bypasses several things in the string of things
required to goose the starter - one of those things it bypasses is the
solenoid.

The Denso/Nippondenso starters that Chrysler uses in a lot of its
vehicles is known for this problem after some age/wear (starter
operation becomes intermittent and/or temperature dependent due to worn
solenoid contacts). Do a search - you can buy new contacts. A lot
cheaper than a new starter/solenoid, which is what many places would try
to sell you.

Oh - wait a minute - here's where I bought a new solenoid/plunger set
for the starter solenoid in my '98 Concorde with Denso starter:
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=VLP&MfrPartNumber=ND34SOL

www.partsamerica is the parent company for regional parts stores
Advance, Schucks, Kragen, Checker, and Murray's. Be aware though that
the local stores don't stock and can't order this particular part (at
least not my local Advance store) - you have to order off the
partsamerica web site.

Same kit fits your Voyager. $13 plus shipping.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Obviously he is bypassing the Neutral Safety switch in the transmission.
Have some who knows what they are doing take at look at the switch and fix
it

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Glenn - Do we know that both the neutral switch and the solenoid
contacts weren't bypasss with that one wire? Is not the behavior more
like solenoid contacts?

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

If the contacts in the starter were the problem..... running a hot wire from
B+ to the starter contact would still not allow the engine to start because
the contacts are no good. . If the starter motor/contacts and the battery
were good all he needs to do is run a wire from B+ to the starter solenoid
to by pass the NSS. Plus the OP mentioned nothing about the Technician
checking the NSS. That was just my opinion.

Glenn

 

My point was that maybe he bypassed the solenoid too - went straight
from battery to the solenoid *output*/starter input (bypassing the
solenoid contacts).

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Would a mechanic have bypassed the solenoid? He'd need a pretty hefty
wire to do that.

I'd suspect that if it's an automatic, it's one of the interlocks. If it's
the
neutral switch interlock, put the car in neutral when it won't start instead
of Park and see if that works. Also, when it doesn't start, try moving
the transmission shift lever and see if that starts it.

Hmm, did anyone install any aftermarket security hardware? You could
have a bad connection there or a bad relay.

Mike

 

Hi...

That scenario should be easily identified by the gauge of wire used

Take care.

Ken

 

Yep. Mike and Glenn are probably right.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

It's just your starter solenoid not working. It may be the contacts, as
somebody suggested, but it could also be the thickening up of some lube in
the starter itself, making it hard to move.

 

Ah oh!

Neutral switch: 2 votes
Solenoid contacts: 2 votes.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')