Hello. I've got my a 2007 town and country 3.3 v6 that will not start. My mom parked it inside tuesday December 20th before cold weather set in and tried to start it for the first time December 24th.
Engine cranks over but it will not fire up. I came to town to help diagnose it. I checked fuses, tested relays, etc for the fuel pump. It cranks just fine. Plenty of cranking power from the battery. I even put it on the charger to just make sure. But it still will not start.
It's worth noting we just went through that God awful cold from the latest winter storm where the wind chills dipped us down below -40 degrees faenheit. My dad maybe thought being so cold that maybe the fuel froze some? I highly doubt that. It was parked inside and all of our other vehicles are running just fine. But anyone think that might be a possibility?
On another note, I have a ob2 scanner I'm taking over tomorrow christmas day. I did the rapid key switching on and off and got the code po552 on the odometer. When I google that it refers to low oil or oil sensor failure. Would that prevent it from starting? I know on the semi trucks I use to drive if the oil would get too low it it would shut you down and often not start. I didn't think these cars worked like that, but I am kind of hoping. It is low on oil (on the add mark). I'm going to add oil and clear the code tomorrow and see if that fixes it. But like I said, most people end up burning up their Engine from lack of oil I thought vs the computer allowing it to fire. But maybe I'm wrong which I hope I am and this is a simple fix. Just add oil and delete the code.
That's my main question. Anyone else think that could be the case? Thr severe cold and the oil level being low triggered a code around the time she parked it and now it will not fire until I reset the code and add oil?
If not I'm open to suggestions please! This is her daily driver and we are all broke and can't afford another vehichle right now. Really hoping it's a simple fix.
I guess I'll find out tomorrow if this works. I guess I still just want to start this forum incase it doesnt.
Thanks!
Wind chill does not affect vehicles other than to cool them down faster, but they will not cool down lower than the actual ambient temperature. The different components in gasoline freeze at different points but in general you don't need to worry about it freezing up unless the temperature (not wind chill) drops to 100 degrees below zero or lower.
https://www.gizmoplans.com/gasoline-freezing-point/
For the no-start problem see the site FAQ for troubleshooting steps. A simple way to narrow down whether it is a fuel or ignition problem is to try starting the engine after spraying some starting fluid into the intake. If the engine starts and briefly runs you have a fuel delivery problem. If it does not fire up there is no spark.
Congrats @chucktobias for 9500 posts!
@doc, It's a Christmas miracle! 😉
Well do pray full of oil will work. If not it could be. The sensor itself is just going bad
Thanks for the responses everyone. Turns out it is a bad fuel pump. I finally got around to dropping the tank today. I did have one quick question if anyone is still following this forum. I might post another question later separately if no one responds.
I got the tank off easily. Got fuel lines disconnected easily as well as the electrical connectors. But there was one line, ( I am assuming is an evap line? I'm not really sure on all of these newer cars. I'm use to working on the older ones.) that went out and up to the filler tube that broke off at the nipple on the tank. There happens to be 3 other lines that come out of this place on the tank. But this one that happened to break off goes up to the filler tube. Its not the fuel line or any of the emission lines going towards the front of the car. Is this some sort of vent line? Will there be any issues if its not connected? (I've been looking up ways to fix it, since the geniuses who made the tank did not make the part separate. You have to buy a whole new tank supposedly.) I think I can use a very small metal line I can pickup from Ace hardware and some epoxy to remake the nipple, but if it wont actually cause any harm in leaving it off, I'd like to know.
(Like I said, I am no expert when it comes to these newer cars and the emissions crap on them. I know some of the older stuff I've helped work on, you could literally just leave the vent line hanging off the tank and not worry about re attaching it. But I have no idea if that is what this line is for or what the consequences are if I dont fix it.) Id be relieved if I could just leave it, but I definetly want to know before I assemble the tank and remount it. I've got a few days before the new pump comes in, so I've got time to hear about what I need to do.
Thanks again everyone for the previous replies and I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year!
-Jeremiah
Thanks for the responses everyone. Turns out it is a bad fuel pump. I finally got around to dropping the tank today. I did have one quick question if anyone is still following this forum. I might post another question later separately if no one responds.
I got the tank off easily. Got fuel lines disconnected easily as well as the electrical connectors. But there was one line, ( I am assuming is an evap line? I'm not really sure on all of these newer cars. I'm use to working on the older ones.) that went out and up to the filler tube that broke off at the nipple on the tank. There happens to be 3 other lines that come out of this place on the tank. But this one that happened to break off goes up to the filler tube. Its not the fuel line or any of the emission lines going towards the front of the car. Is this some sort of vent line? Will there be any issues if its not connected? (I've been looking up ways to fix it, since the geniuses who made the tank did not make the part separate. You have to buy a whole new tank supposedly.) I think I can use a very small metal line I can pickup from Ace hardware and some epoxy to remake the nipple, but if it wont actually cause any harm in leaving it off, I'd like to know.
(Like I said, I am no expert when it comes to these newer cars and the emissions crap on them. I know some of the older stuff I've helped work on, you could literally just leave the vent line hanging off the tank and not worry about re attaching it. But I have no idea if that is what this line is for or what the consequences are if I dont fix it.) Id be relieved if I could just leave it, but I definetly want to know before I assemble the tank and remount it. I've got a few days before the new pump comes in, so I've got time to hear about what I need to do.
Thanks again everyone for the previous replies and I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year!
-Jeremiah