I have a 99 voyager and for the past month been having starting problems. sometimes it starts the first try other times i need to turn key a few times to get it to start. engine doesnt crank, only hear one loud click, turn the key again and it starts up.saw thinking it was the starter but now im not so sure . yesterday when i started car it started up the first try but i heard a strange noise so i shut the car off. the strange noise went away but the car continued to run for a few seconds after turning ignition off. now im starting to think that it is the ignition switch.any ideas on what the problem could be?
Your ignition switch is going bad. The strange noise is the starter remaining engaged and locked to the flywheel. Your best bet is to have the starter tested at your local auto parts store, to deduce that it is not, in fact, your starter.
SOURCE: My 1998 Grand Voyager has had a problem ever since
Sounds like the ignition switched circuits are not always powering up.
I suspect the ignition switch itself, however, it could be relays in the system.
I would start by measuring the voltage drop across the ignition switch, if more than 10% anywhere I would replace the igintion switch (under dash).
SOURCE: clicking noise when car starts
The clicking noise is from the solenoid. If the battery is weak, then there is not enough current to make the starter turn. Therefore it is not necessary the starter is a problem. One of my experience is that the contact inside the solenoid can be rusty, corroded so there is not enough current flowing to the starter to make it work.
The easy way to find out is to charge up the battery, or to have a jump start to see if the starter turns. If it turns then the problem with the battery. If with a new battery and still needing a jump start then the problem is the solenoid contacts, hence the solenoid needs to be replaced.
SOURCE: Let's see if there is really a diagnostic expert
The way to approach this sreies of issues is to first remove the remote start/alarm from the equation and restore the vans electrical system back to original. From there, if it persists, we can do more trouble shooting. Let me know and I can walk you through the process. This is definately a problem that does require a diagnostician. Thank you for the level of detail you provided!
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a simple test is to use a mutimeter or cheap 12V test light. ground one lead and use the other to probe the small wire going to the starter. have someone turn the key to start. the light should come on-indicating 12V. If it does then the ignition switch is working OK. The starter is getting a "signal" to start. This means the starter or its connections are bad. If no power is getting to the small wire on the starter when cranking then the electrical to the ignition is suspect, this would include wire, conectors, relays and switch.
Start all checks with a good battery and clean tight connections.
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so now Im thinking that it could be the ignition lock cylinder. just started van and it started with the first try. out of couriosity i tried to remove the key from the ignition while the car was running and it came most of the way out. could an ignition lock cylinder be causing these problems?
YES. Ignition Lock Cylinder is bad at this point, but it wouldn't hurt to have the switch tested.
Thanks for the advise. I just went out and messed with it a bit more. noticed that the steering wheel needs to be touned an excessive amount to get the steering wheel to lock. once it locked i had trouble turning the key and removing the key. I had to jiggle the key to remove it.
started the car again but something different happoned this time. the car started just fine but the radio and wipers did not work so i shut off car and restarted it and everything started working again
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