# 2011 Dodge Caravan won’t start after brief stops

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-dodge-caravan-won-t-start-after-brief-stops/135309>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** caravan, dodge\
**Created:** [February 25, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-dodge-caravan-won-t-start-after-brief-stops/135309 "2019-02-25T00:00:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Glanville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@Glanville](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Glanville)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-dodge-caravan-won-t-start-after-brief-stops/135309/1 "2019-02-25T00:00:47Z")

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My 2011 Dodge Caravan will occasionally not start after being driven and then stopped for a gas fill up, running an errand, etc. Have had it checked by a mechanic but nothing shows up. Any solutions?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-dodge-caravan-won-t-start-after-brief-stops/135309/2 "2019-02-25T16:29:35Z")

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The no-start problem might be caused by vapor lock.

Have a mechanic check the residual fuel pressure.

Tester

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**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-dodge-caravan-won-t-start-after-brief-stops/135309/3 "2019-02-25T18:50:38Z")

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Does it turn over but fail to start and run? Or does it not even turn over (i.e. starter motor does not work)?

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**Author:** ![Glanville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@Glanville](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Glanville)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-dodge-caravan-won-t-start-after-brief-stops/135309/4 "2019-02-26T01:48:18Z")

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It doesn’t turn over - not even a click. After setting for about 20 minutes or so it will start up.

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 3:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-dodge-caravan-won-t-start-after-brief-stops/135309/5 "2019-02-26T03:40:36Z")

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That’s called a “no-crank” in mechanics parlance. Wouldn’t have anything to do w/the fuel system usually. Sometimes the starter motor will heat up during driving, then not work until it cools off, so that’s one possibility. On some vehicles there’s a heat shield to prevent this, but those shields can fall off. For no-cranks, usually the first step is to test the battery for full charge and its internal condition (load- or conductance- test), and clean the battery posts and terminals. If you can get it into this condition, your shop measuring the voltage at the two starter terminals usually provides a good clue what’s wrong. they should both measure 10.5 volts or higher when the key is in “start”.