Okay, since I know less about auto mechanics then The Fabulous Nathanial knows about women, I need some help.

I got in my wife's van this morning and turned the key. Nothing. Tried 3 or 4 times. nothing.

Thought I must have a bad battery (this has happened before). I went in the house to tell the warden, came back out and it started right up. It's started right up another half dozen times now.

Earlier in the week it did this a couple of times but on the second try it started right up.

Any suggestions that a guy with very limited abilities can look for etc? I have to drive this car out of state to work in the morning and would love to figure this out before that. Thanks all.

Check your battery cables. One of them is probably loose. Also check the negative one (black and with a "minus" sign on the battery) at the opposite end where it connects to the engine block.

If they're tight, see how clean they are. Put a few spoons of baking soda on the terminals, with a drop or two of water, let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse off with a can of coke.

If that doesn't help, you may need to get a bit deeper.

battery connections or weak starter.

or faulty ignition switch

It could also be your coil wire, or your coil.

If you take it to autozone and let them know the symptoms, they can do a quick diagnostic on your battery, cables, coil and alternator and at least tell you what it's NOT. They'll do that for free, too.

Rug - It sounds like something as simple as a bad connection in the steering column. I had a car that would do this - turn the key - nothing . . . . I would just wiggle the steering wheel back and forth, along with wiggling the shift lever, and presto! It would go for weeks without doing it, but then get you. A wiggle did it every time. Tuck

What Yuck said above.. and the Warden has this motion down pat to get it to fire up.. Sounds like a Chrystler product? sometimes these have a problem with the gear lever, you have to hold them up as far as you can on the colume with the arrow going up past the 'P' sign? also where the steering wheel is turned a certian way and locked it requires pressure on that as well?

Hog

What Yuck = TUCK... Sorry Tuck first cup of Java this morning and I didn't proof before I posted bro!

Hog

Add "starter solenoid" to the above list. It engages when you 1st turn the key to send power to your starter motor.

Some Usually it is the simple thing as mentioned above, bad connections, either loose, or corroded. BTW, cables can look ok on the outside and be bad.

If it isn’t a bad wire, as Hog says above, most cars have a transmission switch that will not allow a starting unless the transmission is in Park. These can go bad and the linkage can wear or get out of adjustment preventing starting. Newer cars also have similar switches on the brake peddle and or clutch.

The cable on the battery are good to go but will check where it grounds Adroomi.

Hog, Yes, it's a plymouth voyager. The shirt lever is very touchy too. It wasn't the warden that started it but I didn't touch anything between not starting and starting but the wheel area.

Mas, I'll look into that, if they have one in La Crosse or not. Maybe other places will do the same thing?

Everyone else thanks for the imput it gives me a place to start looking!

I think there is a problem in the steering column. The horn went off this afternoon for no reason.

the horn acting funny should be unrelated. if you start having strange behavior from your horn, cruise control, and airbag light, you're most likely looking at a clock spring. based on what i've read here, i'd look at the terminal connections for the battery, the starter solenoid, and the starter itself. if you check those three items and still don't find it, i'd be a bit concerned. you could have a wiring problem somewhere in the steering column. that would pretty much suck. the other areas are more likely. terminal posts corrode. they don't always look bad, but all they need is a film of corrosion between the post and the terminal. solenoids and starters have moving parts, and the starter is a bit exposed in some cars. if you can find your starter solenoid bang on it while someone else is trying to start it when the car won't start. same with the starter. sometimes the solenoid (which is really just a big relay) just starts getting stuck. usually, it ticks when you try to start it, but not always. they're usually pretty easy to replace. have fun.

well? what was the problem? i'm curious now.

If I am recalling correctly, there was a problem with the starter switch or something like that. Fortunately most everything is cheaper in LaCross and he got it repaired.

I'd stay home from work, back the van out of the garage, open the hood, put a folding chair in front of it, grab a cooler full of whatever you like, a couple cigars, light up and watch it for at least one day maybe a couple.

I suspect something is happening whan you are not around and this is really the only solution. Much cheaper than paying a mechanic to do the same thing.