1996 Dodge G.Caravan No Power

Hi, new to board all I have searched here many times, maybe too many times.

Anyway, 1996 Grand Caravan SE 3.3, 142,000miles. Van won't start, no power to anything, no lights, no dash, flashers, nothing, clicking sound coming from under dash driver's side and bell dings like lights left on or key in ignition, execpt lights are not on and key is not in ignition.
I jump the battery and Van starts, lights on dash flickering, tach and speedo jump up and down. Engines dies, rejump it, starts, dies again.
As I get set to jump battery a third time, I loose ground cable and positive cable to check terminals. While loosening terminals, lights come on and Van will now start. Ok, thinking maybe it was just loose connection or dead cell in battery, I go around corner to Auto Zone, they test battery, Good, test alternate, says only half the output. May need new alternator. OK, so I think.

Van runs fine 6 days, no flickering, no bad starts, runs fine, no power failures while driving.

Today, does it again, no power to anything in the van except under hood light is very weak. Jump the van, runs fine, leave air and radio off, dash panel flickers, all over again.

Not sure what is happening here
1. If I adjust the terminals van will start, (that trick doesnt work anymore)
2. 142,000 miles, maybe I need to change the serpitine belt, could worn belt be contributing to problem?
3. Click noise under dash, driver's side, I traced to the brake pedal, if I hold the brake pedal down then clicking and dinging sound quits. (Remember, this happens when I can get no power to anything else in the van and it won't start.

Recently had to replace the body control module in Aug 03 to fix issue with non-working wipers.
Replaced radiator cooling fans September 03 because fans frozen.

Anybody got any ideas???
thanks for taken a read

Ken

Just adding some information...

Went out and did some checking
Checked the voltage on the battery with ignition off, 12-14 volts.
Checked the voltage on the battery with ignition on, 1 volt.

Is that significant? I really dont think its the starter or else it wouldnt start if I jumped it. I dont think its the alternator because van would always need to be jumped because the battery would be dead, battery always has a good charge. I'm beginning to think there is a intermittent short some where under the dash or under the hood and its sucking all the power whenever the key is turned on, maybe bad ignition?

Anyway, gotta find someway to get home, so going to stop by AutoZone and see if they can test electrical system again.

Are your battery terminals clean? A lot of the symtoms you're describing would have me checking that first. If the surfaces where they make contact are dark or corroded, chances are no power is making it through. On your voltage check, did you do that off of the cable connectors, or the battery itself? If you were in direct contact with the battery, it may be a bad connection between cells. I've seen too many no starts where the outside of the terminal looks fine, but is dirty where it touches the battery. A few minutes with a terminal brush ( find 'em at any parts store ) and they're on their way again.

Hiya Wierdo, you know funny you should ask about those terminals....
about the time you posted your reply I was at Auto Zone doing exactly that....

All through this mess I kept looking at those terminals looking for corosion, looking for the familiar green and/or white residue, and the terminals looked clean. Even my Dad said I should bring the van by and it was probably the terminals were dirty and I could clean them.

but Noooo....I had to make it harder than it needed to be, I guess with as many problems as I have had with this van there's no way it would be as simple as dirty terminals....

So last Wednesday after work I went outside one last time and twisted the negative cable on the post and vaarroom, the van starts. So I drive over to the nearest Auto Zone on Larmar, have the guy come out with the battery tester/charger, he tests the battery and notices the voltage is low, cleans the terminals and everything is fine, battery good and alternator is charging correctly and output is fine.

Anyway its pretty embarrassing.....

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