'97 GC intermittent start problem

[reick]

Sometimes the van will start right up. No problem. Sometimes I get the loud click at the starter. But if I keep turning the key it will eventually start. Sometimes it turns over real slow like the battery is about dead, but all electrical works fine. Has new battery. If I keep turning the key it will eventually start. What do you think? Is it a connection problem or is the starter going out? I feel like it's the starter, but whats got me confused is when it turns over real slow like the battery is dead. I don't understand how the starter would cause that.

[yogi_123rd]

This sounds like your starter is going. The clicking and non start is the give away.

I would guess that the contacts in the starter relay (its part of your starter) are burning out/pitting and have high resistance in spots. This would explain the occational slow starting.

[hfarr]

Did you figure out what the problem is? I have a 97 GC with a 3.8L and today it is giving me problems. We had the ignition switch replaced about 3 years ago because it would sometimes do nothing when you turned the key. If you turned it back off and then on again it would crank. Now it is doing a similar thing with a twist. If you turn the key really fast and hard. In other words slam it into the start position, the starter will engage just for a second. It almost acts as if the motor is siezed and cannot turn over, but it was running perfectly when we shut it off last night. If anyone has any suggestions on this one, please join in. Thanks.

[Cobra_Sam]

Originally Posted by hfarr

Did you figure out what the problem is? I have a 97 GC with a 3.8L and today it is giving me problems. We had the ignition switch replaced about 3 years ago because it would sometimes do nothing when you turned the key. If you turned it back off and then on again it would crank. Now it is doing a similar thing with a twist. If you turn the key really fast and hard. In other words slam it into the start position, the starter will engage just for a second. It almost acts as if the motor is siezed and cannot turn over, but it was running perfectly when we shut it off last night. If anyone has any suggestions on this one, please join in. Thanks.

There are a number of thing that can go wrong, so start with the basics and narrow down the issue. Check if the battery terminals are tight, some of the older caravans have a joint in the pos. cable about 8 inches from the terminal, check if that joint is not faulty. Check if the wires on the starter motor are not coming loose, the wires to the starter are sometimes installed with not enough slack and the shaking of the engine loosens them. Check the relays, you may find that there are a few relays that are the same, switch them around. hope this helps ...
Sam