T&C intermittant start

[Orbitman]

I have a 98 T&C 3.8 Ltr with 125K miles. Over about the last 6 months it has failed to start 4 ot 5 times. After trying to start and then stalling, it will not turn over, no starter solenoid click or anything - normal lights radio etc. Battery is OK. After setting for several hours, it's back to running OK. Two dealers @ $425 and $465 ea. has failed to fix the problem. One even claimed that a defective belt tensioner could cause the problem-no more new car or repair business with that dealer. Any ideas???

[AL Liberty Owner]

My '97 T&C is doing a similar thing. Today it would not start - lights and other electronics work fine - but no clicking sound. There was a slight whining sound, but not clicking. I wonder if the solenoid is just going bad.
5 minutes later, it started right up. No problems for the rest of the day.

This is the third time in 3 months it has done this. Each time it eventually started, but no idea why it doesn't start right away. Battery is fine, just replaced it a few thousand miles ago.

What did the dealers replace/repair/diagnose?

[Orbitman]

Dealer replaced the Battery and cables. The belt tensioner (which is again failing - crooked/not lined up with the belt and making noise) and some sort of thingamajig in the drivers door that they said would lock out the fuel pump and starter as part of the antitheft feature. Also ran diagnostics and showed no problems. Also we had a key/ignition switch lockup (could'nt put it into gear or move the steering wheel) so that was changed but the problem occured again after that. Dealer was at a loss as to what to do next other that randomly start changing parts. I have since traded it away from Chrysler to GM. I have had 2 chrysler products in tha last 10 years and both have had problems that the dealers could not idenitfy or fix(The other was a jeep that would randomly shift down into 2nd at 70MPH!). I have had 8 GM vehicles and althought they were not trouble free, the dealers were able to get them back in shape in every instance.
I wish I could be more help.