Hello all i am new to this forum. My girlfriend has a 96 dakota 4 cylinder. This morning it wouldn't start. It will not crank. Battery is good less then 6 months old. When i tried to start it, the starter didn't even click. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

try jumping from another vehicle.
remove battery cables and clean everything.
tap on the side of the starter with a hammer.
load test the battery.
turn on headliights and turn ignition to start. if headlights go very dim, battery is weak/bad. if headlights don't significantly dim, then starter is not drawing power. also listen for the clicks. relay should click. solenoid shoud thunk/clunk. then starter should spin.

rapid fluttering clicking from the solenoid is a bad battery.

if all battery and relay operation is proper, remove starter and bench test it.

one other remote possibility is neutral safety switch on the trans. shift to neutral and/or jiggle the shifter around as a test.

 

I tried to jump start it and no go. I tapped on the starter and no go. The headlights don't dim. There is no sounds coming from the starter. I turn the key and there is nothihng. I forgot to mention that it is a manual transmission.

 

Also a 96 is a 1st Gen. You posted in the 2nd Gen.I will move it for you.

 

Like dhvaughan said, load test the battery... don't just assume its good cause the voltage is up.

If thats fine, check the starter relay in the PDC (power distribution center).

If thats fine, check the clutch saftey switch connections and temporarily try plugging it into the bypass (green harness up under the dash that loos like the clutch saftey switch harness that will have nothing plugged into it).

If the relay is good and the clutch bypass doesn't fix it, try banging on the starter with a hammer while someone turns the key (not just tapping on it).

If you still get nothing, take the starter out and take it to an autoparts store that offers free testing.

 

Ok, we had the battery tested and it tested fine, replaced the starter because I could bend the teeth on it with my finger, so there is a new starter. Still nothing. We get in, depress the clutch and turn the key, no sound, no whirring, no ticking, no clicking. Only saw one green harness and it was plugged into the clutch switch.

 

look in the power distribution box near the battery for a relay labeled starter.
it should be sort of a square box. swap it with another relay that looks identical.
try it again.

if that doesn't help...
feel/listen to the relay while an assistant turns the ignition key.
if its gets power, it should click.
if no click - probe the slots of that relay w/voltage tester while ignition is in start position.
if your not getting voltage, then test, bypass, and/or replace neutral safety switch.

 

Maybe its just because my truck came factory as an automatic and it has a set of harnesses, but mine had a bypass plug and I can't think of any reason why the manuals wouldn't as well! You can see the harness plugged into the bypass at the top left corner of this picture.

slidingmastercylintohole2.jpg?t=1260926050

 

The clutch safety switch is good. When the clutch is depressed and the key is turned to the start position there is voltage on the terminals for the starter relay. When the clutch is lifted there is no voltage. I tested the relay and the normal open contacts change state when voltage is applied to the coil. To make sure the starter was working i jumpered the starter and it cranked. The relays that are in the box with the starter relay all have the same part number so i used on that was for the ac clutch motor to see if it would start and it wouldn't. So now I think I have to look for a open wire from the relay to the starter solenoid.

 

further reading...