Welcome aboard. Much of this sounds CCD data bus related. The BCM, PCM, TCM, instrument cluster, and climate control panel all use this bus to send simultanios traffic over. High resistance anywhere on the bus can cause seemingly unrelated problems. The usual trouble spots are cracked solder joints on the instrument cluster circuit board, specifically where the connector is soldered to the board.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...p?t=480027Heat damaged connections on the climate control panel connector is another.
http://forum.chryslerminivan.net/showthread.php?t=6547 The usual reported symptoms are troubles with the instruments, climate control and starting just as you are seeing.
A couple tricks incase you haven't found them:
> Disconnet the climate control panel. Sometimes starting and cluster problems disappear.
> Remove the IOD fuse for 2-3 minutes to reset the BCM and bus. Disconnecting the battery does the same.
> Resolder the cluster solder joints even if they apper ok. Some of these cracks can be tiny.
Be careful with BCMs. Make sure the BCM you install has the same security system configuration as the one you remove. If there's a mismatch you might damage the PCM.
*When you say it won't start, do you mean you get rotation but no ignition or you turn the key and hear a click or nothing at all? Other things to look for are corroded wiring at or on the PDC and your battery. You say you jumped it to start it. Low or erratic battery voltage can create havoc with your electronics.