1998 G Caravan

[gsaxon]

I have a 1998 Grand Caravan 3.8 L. It has a major problem. It will stall at any time, whether it is just idling or while I'm driving down the road. The check engine light does not always come on. Sometimes it starts right back up and some times it takes a few minutes. When it will not start, it doesn't even roll over. Sometimes the gauges and dashboard lights go crazy. I had it at the garage (not a Chrysler dealer) for weeks, but the mechanics cannot figure out what is wrong. Anyone have any ideas?

[Cobra_Sam]

Originally Posted by gsaxon

I have a 1998 Grand Caravan 3.8 L. It has a major problem. It will stall at any time, whether it is just idling or while I'm driving down the road. The check engine light does not always come on. Sometimes it starts right back up and some times it takes a few minutes. When it will not start, it doesn't even roll over. Sometimes the gauges and dashboard lights go crazy. I had it at the garage (not a Chrysler dealer) for weeks, but the mechanics cannot figure out what is wrong. Anyone have any ideas?

I don't know if this is the case with yours, but my one has a factory join in the positive cable about 8 inches from the positive terminal near the battery. I had the car towed twice into the shop and when it got there it started so they couldn't locate the problem. I found it myself by pulling on the cable while someone in the car was cranking it. Another thing to check is the battery terminals. Some models have the wires bolted onto the terminal and the terminal again bolted onto the battery. Check them all. hope this helps ...
Sam

[Mrbizness1]

Originally Posted by gsaxon

When it will not start, it doesn't even roll over. Anyone have any ideas?

I assume when you say roll over you mean nothing happens when you turn the key. If this is the case I would tend to agree with Cobra-Sam that this is a bad wire or poor ground connection, which will cause the lights to go crazy. The first place the check is at the starter ground terminal and the battery connections.
good luck and keep us posted.

[gsaxon]

Originally Posted by Cobra_Sam

I don't know if this is the case with yours, but my one has a factory join in the positive cable about 8 inches from the positive terminal near the battery. I had the car towed twice into the shop and when it got there it started so they couldn't locate the problem. I found it myself by pulling on the cable while someone in the car was cranking it. Another thing to check is the battery terminals. Some models have the wires bolted onto the terminal and the terminal again bolted onto the battery. Check them all. hope this helps ...
Sam

Thanks for your input. My husband will be home this weekend and he said that this sounds logical to him. Wish us luck! I'll let you know how it goes.

[Seacrakker]

Originally Posted by gsaxon

I have a 1998 Grand Caravan 3.8 L. It has a major problem. It will stall at any time, whether it is just idling or while I'm driving down the road. The check engine light does not always come on. Sometimes it starts right back up and some times it takes a few minutes. When it will not start, it doesn't even roll over. Sometimes the gauges and dashboard lights go crazy. I had it at the garage (not a Chrysler dealer) for weeks, but the mechanics cannot figure out what is wrong. Anyone have any ideas?

Hi, I have a '98 Grand Caravan LE 3.8L.
Your problem sounds similar to one I had. It was electrical.
The car would stall intermittently and my dashboard lights would go crazy and door locks were going on and off.
Turned out I just needed a new battery. Mechanic didn't diagnose it because the battery would hold a nominal charge but with all of the electronics in the car they would drain it very rapidly. After sitting for a few minutes the battery would recharge enough to start the car but it would stall out again shortly after.