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Thread: Why does this happen?

  1. #1
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Why does this happen?

    My mom went out of town for the week. She drove to my house and then I drove her to the airport...in her van. I drove the van back home and have been "van sitting" since. I took the van this morning to wash it inside and out so it would be nice and shiny clean when she got back.

    Bastard.

    I worked fine going to the car wash. I washed it, dried it, cleaned the windows and the whole inside. The whole 9 yards. I close up all the doors, get in the van, put on my seat belt...and the fucker won't start. It makes a rattling noise. The fuel gauge, tachometer, spedometer, and engine heat needles all go completely over to the other side of the gauges and back down. But, no start. I cannot power lock the doors...I cannot turn anything on. It's dead...completely.

    Mind you, this fucking van was brand new in MARCH. 2005 model Dodge Grand Caravan (yeah, I know...the first mistake). I've had this van 2 times since she got it (not including this time). It's done this at least once each time. Every time I called the dealer and scheduled them to come out and tow the van, the tow guy would get here and the fucker would start right up with no problem. So, the tow guy leaves and I drive it over to the dealer. They hook it up and look at me and say "Everything is reading ok on the computer."

    Today...it hasn't done that. A guy at the car wash said something about some cellenoid (sp?) that's shot or the alternator blew or something.

    A brand new van.

    Fuck that...I'm getting a Honda.
    Last edited by VenusGoddess; 10-16-2005 at 04:10 PM.

  2. #2
    Senior Member FL Dancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Why does this happen?

    Yup, sounds like a defective alternator to me. Been there , done that. BIG pain in the ass too.

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    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Why does this happen?

    Well it should be covered by warranty anyway. I'd get it to the dealer and stand there and INSIST that they figure out what's wrong, telling them how it's done this before. Aren't mechanics trained to do something besides hook the damn thing up to a computer anyway? geez

    Quote Originally Posted by pheno View Post
    When you lead a nontraditional life don't try to measure it with traditional milestones.

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    God/dess whirlerz's Avatar
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    Default Re: Why does this happen?

    So sorry to hear about this, hun. Have been there too. I luv my Hyundai.


    MANY MEN WANTED TO LAY ME DOWN, BUT FEW WANTED TO LIFT ME UP

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    Senior Member janx34's Avatar
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    Default Re: Why does this happen?

    Ok. I'm no expert.......everyone else seems to think it's the altenator but i won't know........

    but anyway try taking off the battery terminals and scrubing them and also the battery contacts with a wire brush. Then blow off any dust and reconnect them. See if it starts up after that. it'll only take a second and if it doesn't work sorry.....if it does great!

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    Senior Member Abbeynormal's Avatar
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    Default Re: Why does this happen?

    Celenoids and alternators are actually not that hard to fix and/or replace. Just promise the dealer that you will park the thing in the front, right by all of their prospective customers, telling them all the story, until they fix the damn thing. "If you need me, boys, I'll be right out there, telling your prospects about how my 6-month0-old car won't start and that you guys won't fix it. See ya!" My mom did this, and they went apeshit. Car was fixed in about 20 minutes.
    "This above all: to thine own self be true."

  7. #7
    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Why does this happen?

    My battery died on me after I took it to the car wash once. The car started to drive funny, and within a day, it was dead. I swear it was perfectly fine before the wash. They do such a crappy job anyway. I know they don't make much $$$, but I always tip them, and still have to watch over them like a hawk or they won't clean anything properly, bleh!

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
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    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Why does this happen?

    Quote Originally Posted by Abbeynormal
    Celenoids and alternators are actually not that hard to fix and/or replace. Just promise the dealer that you will park the thing in the front, right by all of their prospective customers, telling them all the story, until they fix the damn thing. "If you need me, boys, I'll be right out there, telling your prospects about how my 6-month0-old car won't start and that you guys won't fix it. See ya!" My mom did this, and they went apeshit. Car was fixed in about 20 minutes.
    LOL I would sooo do that

    Quote Originally Posted by pheno View Post
    When you lead a nontraditional life don't try to measure it with traditional milestones.

  9. #9
    Featured Member evan_essence's Avatar
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    Default Re: Why does this happen?

    Alternators, celenoids, altoids, cellulites, whatEVAH. It definitely does sound like an intermittant electrical malfunction. I once had a car that had a cracked electrical component in it and everytime the outdoor temperature and engine heat would rise to a certain point, the crack would widen, the circuit was broken and the car would just die. Nor would it start again until it cooled off a bit. Sometimes quite a long time. Once it cooled off, the connection was made again and all appeared normal until the next long drive on a hot day. Naturally, the mechanics couldn't figure out what was wrong because when they got a look at it, it was making contact and the computer said all was oh-tay. It was only when I got the right mechanic did he know what the problem was from previous experience.

    Perhaps you should ask this expert dude.
    http://allexperts.com/displayExpert.asp?Expert=42560
    However, be prepared to be told that you have a "pretty name hun" as part of the written response. Hahaha.

    -Ev

  10. #10
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Why does this happen?

    I think that there is some big electrical malfunction in the van. We went back to the car wash to see if the van would start so I could bring it home...and since the electronic unlock wouldn't work, I went to put the key in the door to manually unlock it. I got a real good shock. I shot a pain straight up into my shoulder. The van did start and I drove it home quickly...

    But, I told my mom that she needs to take the van in and have them rip it apart. There is something wrong there and since this is not the first time this has happened...but it happens intermittently...it's got to be some wire that's loose and grounding itself. There's no reason that anyone should get an electric shock opening up the door.

    Thanks for the advice, everyone!! I will definitely keep the "standing out front" option in mind. heh heh heh

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