My daughter just bought a 1991 Dakota, v6, with 85k on it. Ran great when I looked at it and driving home from buying it yesterday. Today she went to drive it and it wouldn’t start. Pulled codes and I am getting 12, 41. Alternator causing no crank?

 

Is the engine not cranking? Or is it just not firing?

 

not cranking

 

When you try, does it just spin over slowly or not at all?

BTW - turning over == cranking ; it's spinning at that point.

Not spinning won't be the alternator, unless the battery is flat because it ran the battery down. So I'd charge that battery first before I did anything else.

RwP

 

Truck does not crank, spin, turn over, try to start.

Tried to jump it by using jumpers cables hooked up to my Ram. Nothing.

Everything I have read for a code 41 says Alternator, but the alternator should not keep it from starting.

Only things that occur when trying to start it are dash lights light up and buzz from under dash.

 

Will it crank if you jump the terminals on the starter motor?

 

Didn’t try that. Will tonight.

 

One more test ... if you have the headlights on, do they dim when you try to crank it?

If not, the starter or starter circuit has failed. With a sudden fail, I'd pull the starter and test it; if it's bad, try to get the current one rebuilt (preferably at a shop that's been around since the 1950's/1960's and has "Generator Alternator Starter" listed for what they do.) If it's good, check the starter relay, the wiring to the starter, and the ignition switch.

If the lights do dim, then see if you can turn it over by hand (or with a socket and breaker bar!) with the crank bolt in the front.

RwP