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2008 T&C Ignition Switch Problem

26 messages,  Last post on Apr 18, 2013 at 4:20 PM

You are in the Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chrysler Town and Country, Electrical, Van

Messages Page 1 of 3

#1 of 26 2008 T&C Ignition Switch Problem by craigmik

Jan 19, 2010 (7:42 pm)

Last Saturday, after washing my 08 T&C (including the inordinate amount of brake shoe crud off the wheels), I went to start it and it wouldn't crank, click or do anything. No accessory either. Checked it with my spare key and nothing.
 
I let it sit in the driveway until Sunday and checked it again. Still nothing. Call roadside and they brought it to the dealer Monday. Got a call from the dealer and they said they found nothing wrong.
 
This really scares me because now they have nothing to fix and I know this is going to happen again at a very inopportunistic time.
 
Anyone else have this problem? Perhaps I am imagining things or I have forgotten how to start a car after 26 years or driving. I was not drunk and trying to start the glove compartment so you can rule that out.
 
Oh yeah they tell me I need brakes at 21K too.

#2 of 26 Re: 2008 T&C Ignition Switch Problem [craigmik] by kmbtwp

Jan 20, 2010 (8:56 am)

Replying to: craigmik (Jan 19, 2010 7:42 pm)
I had the exact same service call. I have had several times when my 08 T&C would not crank. I usually turn off all electronics and it starts. The dealer said nothing was wrong. They also told me I needed new brakes at 21k as well. I ended up getting new brakes from Monro but have already needed them redone because they gave me the wrong size.

#3 of 26 Re: 2008 T & C Ignition Switch Problem by bob326

Feb 03, 2010 (10:36 am)

I had the exact problem. I turn everything off and the car still would not crank. Had to jump start the car three times. Every time the mechanic says the 2008 T & C is experiencing a drain of the battery. They cannot find the problem but believe the problem may be coming from the electronic starter the dealer installed prior to us buying the car. The problem occurs about every two weeks.

#4 of 26 Re: 2008 T & C Ignition Switch Problem [bob326] by disappointed31

Feb 05, 2010 (8:38 am)

Replying to: bob326 (Feb 03, 2010 10:36 am)
We are having that exact problem with our 2008 T&C. I am SO DISAPPOINTED in this van. We have had 3 other Dodge or Chrysler vans and NONE of them were as much of a pile of crap as this one and we bought this one brand new and have had NOTHING but problems with it. We have an appointment at the dealer on monday to fix the problem with the battery just being dead. It has happened on us twice.. Nothing left on and the vehicle only sat for 20 minutes the last time it was dead.. Makes NO SENSE!!!
The navigation/radio randomly just shuts off and can't get it to turn back on. Shut the van off and then sometimes it will come back on. We had to put new brakes on it at 37,000 miles. Then at 40,000 miles we thought the wheel bearings were bad they replaced passenger side wheel bearing because it was humming so LOUDLY still didn't fix the humming took it back in turns out there was a bearing in the transmission that was out. They tore apart the transmission and then couldn't get a bearing from the factory so they had to put in a brand new transmission. Thank goodness the dealership we are going to is VERY helpful. They even gave us a vehicle to drive while ours was getting fixed. We have had the problem with the automatic doors sensing something was there when it wasn't fixed apparently there is a recall on that. Our keys had to be replaced there was a recall on that too. I wish we would've traded it off before the 36,000 miles warrenty went off. We did buy the bumper to bumper extended warranty with a $100 deductable but how many $100 deductables are we going to have to pay for this junker!!!

#5 of 26 2008 T&C Touring will not start!! by jbernard

Feb 21, 2010 (3:34 pm)

This is our third T&C and the second consecutive bought brand new. I really wanted the Honda van, but my wife fell in love with the 'my Gig' system. Ok let me tell you what happened the other day. I took my boys to get a haircut in the van and returned home no problems. A couple hours later I go to run a errand, I press the key fob to unlock the door nothing happens. I have to open the door the old way by actually using a real key from my key fob to unlock the door! When i go turn the ignition nothing happens....no sounds, no bells, no interior lights, no radio, no dashboard lights. Must be a dead battery right?? Well a tried three times to jump it off to no avail. Headlights work, horn blows loud. Do you guys have any sugesstions? My van has a little over 50k and is warrenty. Is it the battery or is it electrical?

#6 of 26 Re: 2008 T&C Touring will not start!! [jbernard] by xwesx

Feb 22, 2010 (1:04 pm)

Replying to: jbernard (Feb 21, 2010 3:34 pm)
Best thing to do first is test the battery, but it sounds like the problem is electrical - possibly related to the body control module (BCM). It is sad that a vehicle as new as yours is suffering such a malady, though! Good luck.....

#7 of 26 Won't start, bad brakes and uses oil by leftsitting

Feb 25, 2010 (9:49 am)

Oh I am so happy to know that I am not the only one with issues on this van.
My dealer says they have never heard of any of these problems before.
My 2008 T&C 3.8L van has had numerous problems.
I do have 42,000 miles on this van and it is out of warranty - so my issues are at my cost.
We have had to replace both front hubs.
I have had two sets of brakes AND rotors and guess what I need yet a third set put on this van.
AND let's not leave out the fact that about once a week I am left sitting to find someone to jump start me. It did this to the mechanic last week and he "tested" my starter and declared it was bad so I put a new one on and guess what three days later - I am left sitting with the same problem. It clicks but will not start.
I have had my battery tested, and my alternator and they all test good.
Other issues that I have are oil usage - did you know that it is "normal" for that van to use up to 1 quart of oil for every 1,000 miles driven - has anyone ever heard of that? Mine is about 2-3 quarts low at every 3,000 miles.
My hands free phone doesn't work for me or two different phones I have tried - yet it does work for the mechanic that looks at it.
My nav / sat. locks up periodically and I have to turn off the van to restart that, however I must admit that doesn't happen often.
Can anyone tell me what other makes of cars have sat. tv in them. That has by far been the best thing about this van for our family who travels alot. I am ready to trade it in.

#8 of 26 Re: Won't start, bad brakes and uses oil [leftsitting] by disappointed31

Apr 21, 2010 (11:20 am)

Replying to: leftsitting (Feb 25, 2010 9:49 am)
We have had the same issue where the van won't start and nothing has drained the battery. We also have had the nav/sat go black and it won't turn back on until you shut the vehicle off and then turn it back on. I once again took it to our dealership and explained both the problems. They of course couldn't get it to happen to them. They ended up putting in a new battery. They also installed a new nav/sat system and we have not had either issue happen again.
We have put on the second set up front wheel bearings at 50,000 miles. The new nav/sat might help your hands free phone too..

#9 of 26 Re: Won't start, bad brakes and uses oil [leftsitting] by annfromjersey

Jul 19, 2010 (6:43 pm)

Replying to: leftsitting (Feb 25, 2010 9:49 am)
I've experience the same problem with the oil use. Two weeks ago my oil light comes on. I know I was overdue for an oil change, but out of curiousity I pulled over and checked. I was 3 quarts low!!! I almost blew up my engine. When I took the car into the dealership and complained about the oil use, it turns out I had a oil leak in the lower manifold! I never saw a drop of oil in the driveway!

#10 of 26 Re: Won't start, bad brakes and uses oil [annfromjersey] by leadfoot69

Mar 24, 2011 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: annfromjersey (Jul 19, 2010 6:43 pm)
I have had my battery go dead on me now 3 times for no apperant reason just go out in the morning and starter just click charging system and battery both check out. doing a amp draw test on it right now and looking for what the draw should be with everything off key in hand. mine seems hi at .3 amps i would think it needs to be below .09????
And mine is using oil aswell 3.8l at 4200kms was down 2 litre now at 5k km and down .5 L already again.

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