2000 Voyager Won't Start

[boomboom]

I just replaced the trasmission in my 2000 3.3L Grand Voyager and now it won't start. It started fine when I drove it into the shop. The battery is good, the cables are ok. The starter worked good up to this point. I checked all the connections to make sure they are tight. I replaced the transmission because reverse went out.

When I turn on the key, the shift letters (PND32) appear on the instrament panel, but the little circle that shows what gear it is in does not appear. When you turn the key to the run position, the circle should be around the P to show it is in park.

When I turn the key to start, nothing happens. No clicks or anything.

The next thing I am going to do is see if there is power to the starter when the key is in the start position.

Any other ideas where to start looking? Thanks.

[jpb53]

Double check your shift cable for adjustment. Also ck your electrical connections. Pcm has to see park or neutral before it will ground the starter relay and allow the engine to crank.

[boomboom]

I adjusted the cable and it seems to shift througt the gears ok with the column shifter. I tried to start the van in neutral, but it still acts the same. I will recheck the connections.

Where does the PCM look for a neutral signal?

I used the solenoid pack from my old transmission becaue the electrical connector on the new one was broken. I took the cover off to make sure there were no metal shavings in it. Could this have caused this problem?

Thanks.

[jpb53]

Park / neutral signal comes from the transmission range switch.

[RIP]

3 speed or 4 speed tranny? The 4 speed gear indication reads PRND3L. The 4 speed tranny has the range sensor.

[boomboom]

It is a 4 speed. I was just guessing on the gear display. I don't have the car with me right now.

Thanks.

[boomboom]

My guess based on what I have learned from the responses so far is that the big wire plug on the corner of the transmission may not be on tight enough. I seem to remember it was a little hard to push down. Tonight I am going to take it off and clean it with electical contact cleaner and put it back on and see what it does. I hope that will get my shift indicator working again.

Thanks.

[RIP]

The Transmission Range Switch (TRS) is inside the transmission mounted above the valve body. To access it remove the pan, filter, valve body and you're there. There is an external electrical connector you can test the switches at.

If you can detect the starter relay clicking when you turn the key to start, the TRS is doing it's job.

[boomboom]

I pulled the TRS out of the old transmission so I could see what it is and what it does. I jumpered the wires at the plug to get it to think it is in park, but it still does not activate the starter. I even connected the old TRS to the plug and jumped across the little pins that run on the selector cam in the trans. Still no change. I also installed a new ignition switch with no change.

I would also like to figure out why the gear indicator on the dash does not work. When you turn the key on a circle lights up around eacn of the shift positions (PRND3L), then all the circles all go out. I have another van here just like it. After all the positions light up with circles, all the circles go out except the one around the P for park. Does anyone know what might cause this?

Thanks.

[boomboom]

One more queston. What does the Automatic Shutdown Relay do? I have swapped it around with other relays in the under the hood fuse block, but according to my Haynes manul wiring diagram it has something to do with the starting system. What is it used for and what activates it. It looks like it may be connected to the starter relay through the PCM.

Thanks.

[RIP]

What does ASD relay do? When you crank the engine or anytime the engine is running, engine timing is determined by the output from the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors. If the PCM doesn't see this data or it is erratic it cuts off the ground to the ASD relay coil. That opens the output contacts in the relay. That cuts power to the fuel injectors, ignition coil, O2 sensors and sometimes the fuel pump relay.

[boomboom]

Thanks for the input. It looks like the ASD keeps the engine from running, but does it prevent the starter from cranking?

[RIP]

Originally Posted by boomboom

Thanks for the input. It looks like the ASD keeps the engine from running, but does it prevent the starter from cranking?

I would like to say no but I can't find a narrative that puts it in black and white. The wiring diagrams add to the confusion. It shows the splice that connects the ASD relay output to the ign coil, injectors, O2 sensors etc. It also shows an input to the PCM from the same splice. That input is just labeled "ASD relay" at the PCM. What it does from there is up for grabs.

Your boxed PRNDL3 indication is typically data bus related. Usually a bad TCM, TRS or wiring between.

Where did the new tranny come from?
Have you jumpered the starter relay to see if he starter will spin?
Have you checked for voltage at the starter relay then the starter with the switch in start?
Have you made a new ground from the PCM at the starter relay?
Would you like the WDs I have? Send me a PM with an email address included.

I'm scratching my head on this one. Logic says it's something to do with the TRS since that's the only component in the starting circuit that's new with the tranny change. You've proven it's good. Only thing I can come up with is maybe wiring somewhere was inadvertently damaged in the tranny remove/install process. Baffling.

[jpb53]

2 wires from the TRS have to do with the park neutral position. The brown with a yellow tracer goes to the PCM; this is for starting. Black with a white tracer goes to the TCM: these 2 wires are bussed together inside the switch.Violet with white tracer; light green with black tracer and also the violet wire go to the TCM. The 4 wires that go to the TCM are used to compute gear selection. ASD relay has nothing to do with the starting system. Pull the starter relay and turn it over. the posts shoul be numbered. #30 should have battery voltage at all times. #86 should have battery voltage when key is turned to start position. #85 is ground supplied by the PCM.#87 is the power out of the relay to the starter solenoid. You can jump 30 to 87 and see if the engine will crank.

[boomboom]

Thanks for the great info on this. I did some testing around the relays and found the PCM is not grounding the starter relay on #85.

If I jump #30 and #87 the starter will kick over.

#86 gets power when I turn the key to start.

I verified the relays are working.

Any ideas why the PCM will not ground the starter relay when I turn the key to start?

Thanks.