NHTSA Complaint #10155930 — 1997 DODGE CARAVAN

1997 DODGE CARAVAN 3.3 LITER V6 WITH 93000 MILES. STARTED VEHICLE AND THE STARTER MECHANISM LOCKED ONTO THE FLYWHEEL OR FAILED TO DISENGAGE, MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE. TURNED IGNITION OFF AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN BUT STARTER KEPT CYCLING ENGINE. REMOVED KEYS FROM IGNITION AND VAN WAS STILL ATTEMPTING START BY TURNING THE ENGINE OVER AND OVER. STRONG SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AS THE STARTER CONTINUED TO CYCLE ENGINE, UNABATED, WITH KEYS OUT OF IGNITION. HOOD WAS POPPED AND BATTERY CABLES WERE DISCONNECTED SHUTTING THE STARTER OFF. THE STARTER CRANKED THE ENGINE, NONSTOP, WITHOUT KEYS IN IGNITION, FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. UPON IMMEDIATE INSPECTION OF THE STARTER IT WAS FOUND TO BE RED HOT. THE CABLES/WIRES COMING OUT OF THE STARTER WERE RED HOT AND SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC FILLED THE AIR. THE STARTER WAS REMOVED AND FOUND TO BE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ( WITH CHRYSLER CORPORATION LOGO INTACT). THE STARTER WAS FOUND TO BE LOCKED IN THE EXTENDED POSITION AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. A NEW STARTER WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED DUE TO THE ORIGINAL BEING INOPERABLE. OLD STARTER WAS TURNED IN TO PEP BOYS IN RAYNHAM, MA FOR CORE REFUND. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IF THE BATTERY WAS NOT DISCONNECTED, THE STARTER WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO START THE ENGINE UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY(STARTER)OVERHEATED ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE WIRES AND START AN ENGINE FIRE. *JB