Three problems related to starter have been reported for the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Randomly will start up and immediately shut down. After 3 times, will not start. Have had it taken to 4 different mechanics over the last 18 months. 2 were Dodge dealerships. One dealership replaced the starter for $440. The next dealership (I was out of town for christmas, so couldn't return to first dealership) replaced the power train control module for $800. Still have had the problem. The message board is full of people with the same problem and dealers replacing the same parts that I have had replaced and still not getting fixed. If I can look on the internet and see what is wrong, why can't a mechanic? I will have the instrument panel cluster changed next and it better be no charge!!.
About three or four times a week I will lose my dash guages. The lights and upper dash light will still work but guages won't. After no set amount of time it will power back up and doors will lock down, seat belt light will come on and van will act like it just started (goes through intial start up sequence). Sometimes the van won't start. Key will be turned and van will start up and immediately stall. This will happen three times and then doesn't roll over or anything. Lately van will lock and unlock itself continually while driving, sometimes unlocking itself after alarm has been set risking the loss of valuables in the car while we are away. The check engine light comes on periodically and we take it into dealer and the computers aren't communicating so they replace wires, etc and fixes for a little while but doesn't fix the stalling problem, etc. Dealer doesn't know what is wrong and suggested replacing all wiring at $2000 but no guarantee this is causing problem. We have already spent close to $700 on new starter, etc. To no avail. On message board someone suggested when it doesn't start before it completely won't turn over to turn the key over and hit the dash as hard as possible and it worked. . . . Started right up. Suggested the circuit board is bad. Why can't the dealer figure this out. Still costs $500 to fix. We don't have the money to keep putting into van. . . . We just bought it less than a year ago. . . But we can't afford to get anything else right now either.
Transmission was noisy--faulty flywheel and starter were replaced to correct it.