hey y'all. So the previous owner of my truck was very meticulous with the vehicle. He left a note about the truck that it would sometimes have problems starting. He said to never move the steering wheel, and if the truck wouldn't turn over then to jump the starter using a wire he connected to the starter. He passed, so I can't ask him about this directly.

I haven't had any problems with it until yesterday, when it would turn over. No clicks, no cranks, everything lit up. I didn't try to jump the starter, but instead just put the truck in neutral and it started right up. Besides that, it hasn't happened again (yet). I'm wondering if it is a neutral switch or if the starter is bad. Any ideas before I start taking things apart?

 

May just be the shift linkage needs tightened up/adjusted. Next time it does it, just wiggle the shifter (stay in park) and see if it starts.

 

Let me attach the exploded parts diagram that covers both early and later automatic shift linkages.

At around 30 years old (25 to 34), it's not surprising that the nylon bushings are failing with age.

Good news! Two part numbers are still available from Mother Mopar, and remember how long the current ones have lasted.

Bad news! There's one that's NLA, and can only be found in NOS exce$$ively high price$, which I find expen$ive ... However, I found one in a Dorman / HELP! assortment that fit and worked. Alas, I didn't note the assortment number ...

RwP