Starter Problems? My 1995 dodge caravan will run perfectly, 170,000 miles on it but now when you go to start it, it often just clicks once and the starter refuses to turn over. I have noted that in heat it starts much easier than in the cold now as well.

When you try to start it do the lights dim way low, have you been able to start it with a jump from another vehicle, unfortunately, chances are the starter needs to be replaced. How many miles does it have?

starter is probably rusted

if the motor is turning over but not firing,,its not the starter,,when is the last time it had a tune up,,,

Probably a bad starter as well. A good battery can make a marginal starter work, but over time the battery will be weakened by the drain of the starter or the starter will get worse.

Remove the starter and take it to your local parts store for testing and replacement. Bring your battery along as the bad starter might have toasted it.

Also a bad battery can wear out a starter quickly.

We had issues like this with our pickup truck a few years back. Replaced the battery, worked okay for a while, then the replaced the starter, worked okay for a while, then the battery was bad. Eventually replaced both and haven't had any issues since.

So when replacing one it is a good idea to check the other.

you need to replace the neutral starting switch on the transmission,it is a screw in type and has a connector with three wires on it,or start your van in neutral.

This has to be the starter relay if you have no voltage at the starter.

More info, let me know.

Charlie

fuel filter, fuel pump sonds like it is not getting fuel. Because when you spray starter fluid in it, it started and ran on what little bit of starter fluid you sprayed it with.

I'd take a close look at the relays under the hood, in the fuse/relay box, i think on yours probably on drivers side near shock tower. Look close at connections to it also.

If that starter is damaged then replace it and make sure that you shim the starter correctly or it will bind the gears and do the same thing again.

Check that the battery cable ends (where the wire goes into the clamp) are clean with no corrosion, and that the other end of those cables are securely connected - especially where the ground cable connects. Also check any ground strap that connects the engine with the frame or body.