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2010 Caravan- no start after water exposure
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Thingsmac
New User
Mar 4, 2024, 3:37 PM
Post #1 of 8
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2010 Caravan- no start after water exposure
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3.3L, 190k km Dodge Grand Caravan
Ok, so I did a coolant system flush and am replacing a damaged pipe, but it was also raining and under the hood got some H20 in the process.
I'm unable to start, or get any attempts from the starter- instead I just get a single, repeated click (about 3/4 second apart, *sounds electrical related). When I put it in Neutral, I get the same, but in between clicks is 2 smaller clicks. Electrical trouble code, code reader not available for a couple days.
I'm new to electrical and kind of intimidated by this, but know there's a time to learn everything.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
(This post was edited by Thingsmac on Mar 4, 2024, 5:33 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 4, 2024, 4:59 PM
Post #2 of 8
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Re: 2010 Caravan- no start after water exposure
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That repeated click indicates low battery voltage. Try charging the battery and trying again after that.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Thingsmac
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Mar 4, 2024, 5:31 PM
Post #3 of 8
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Re: 2010 Caravan- no start after water exposure
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Thanks- I should mention a couple more things:
- initially when I re-attached the battery, there was multiple successive clicks coming from the fuse-box area
- I charged the battery, and tried again (*FYI the clicks weren't from the starter)
- the "⚡" electrical light is on since, I don't yet have a diagnostic tool
(This post was edited by Thingsmac on Mar 4, 2024, 5:32 PM)
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Thingsmac
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Mar 5, 2024, 8:21 PM
Post #5 of 8
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Re: 2010 Caravan- no start after water exposure
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(Since I removed the battery prior to the water exposure, and since the obvious malfunction was very noticeable clicking from the fuse-box upon reconnecting the battery, and since the fuse box area (and several others) were exposed to moisture, I strongly feel this is an electrical system issue (note: electrical warning light on)). I respect your suggestion about the battery, but it was tested, had full power, proper voltage, and easily ran every accessory (heat, lights, etc) without a hitch. I'm extremely familiar with a struggling starter and I can say this was not the case of an engaged starter struggling yet failing to turn.
Unfortunately when reconnecting the fully charged battery the second time as suggested, to rule it out indefinitely, an arc was made between the terminals with the uncoated wrench I was using, and the electrical problem went from bad to worse.
Instead of a mere 'clicking' with lights on, reconnecting it & attempting to run it resulted in a virtually dead signal- where lights would briefly go on and shut off quickly, and virtually no response.
The battery was sufficient but not likely after the arcing through the wrench.
Heavy-hearted, I left it in for the evening, surprised to hear an ambient noise from the fuse-box area when returning to disconnect it in the morning, and the ambient soft buzzing disappeared when I did.
My deductions suggest:
- originally water shorted some aspect of the starting motor's electrical capacity when I connected the battery with some aspect of the electrical system still damp.
- after 'doubly-ruling out' the battery and accidentally arcing it, it's now obviously questionable, and while I will use another battery that definitely works (which I'm charging to be extra sure), I highly expect the exact same result of the first, if not the second earlier attempts.
I think possibly starter electric motor (or related) the first issue, and I assume a potential ruined battery and dread it might be a ruined ECM.
(This post was edited by Thingsmac on Mar 5, 2024, 8:34 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 5, 2024, 8:30 PM
Post #6 of 8
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Re: 2010 Caravan- no start after water exposure
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I didn't say the battery was the problem. I said you have a low voltage issue and to start with testing the battery and work from there once you have a known good battery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Mar 5, 2024, 8:31 PM)
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Thingsmac
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Mar 5, 2024, 8:37 PM
Post #7 of 8
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Re: 2010 Caravan- no start after water exposure
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the "⚡" electrical light is on since, I don't yet have a diagnostic tool I know the noise is coming from the starter. I still say you have a bad battery. Have it tested.
Hmm...
As I said the noise was always coming from the fuse box.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 5, 2024, 8:50 PM
Post #8 of 8
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Re: 2010 Caravan- no start after water exposure
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Here ya go.
The starter relay is in that fuse box
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Mar 5, 2024, 8:51 PM)
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