I have a 1999 Durango with the 5.2 and just in the last week it has developed a problem. Ill get in turn the key and a loud click from the solenoid. Try it again and same result but after doing this anywhere from 5 to 25 times the starter will crank the engine but only for a second. Turn the key some more with only the click from the solenoid a few times and it cranks and the engine starts but now it wont disengage so i shut the engine off and it keeps cranking for another 5 seconds. This will happen every time i try to start the s-o-b. Took the starter off 3-4 months ago because it would spin for about a second after the engine started but then disengage after a second and i took it apart cleaned it up nice, regreased the bearings and planetary gears, and cleaned connections, and i made sure that the solenoid moved freely. After i did that it worked perfect up until about a week ago. Battery is brand new because my old one went to hell. Had to redo batt cable connections recently and they are clean. Are my solenoid connections that bad or could it be my starter drive gear not meshing properly with the flywheel? Or both. Thanks.

 

i would lean toward the solenoid being the problem, but iirc its part of the starter so just replace the unit and be done with it.

 

i was thinking the same thing. I am in a college Auto Tech course and my instructor has a sourse where he can get any replacement parts i would need so i might take it off and properly rebuild it before i go spending money.

 

Had the same problem for the last week. I was getting one loud click, sometimes it would crank for 1/2 a second then stop.

Tested the starter, cleaned the terminals, installed new terminals, cleaned the starter, and all connections to it.

I cleaned the connections for the battery to the fuse box under the hood right by the battery. They are a positive and negative that goes into a fuse. I also switched the starter relay with the intermittent wiper relay. Haven't had a problem since.

Also try to start the truck in neutral and move the shifter around, it may be your neutral safety switch.

 

Pulled the starter and put new terminals in the solenoid and cleaned up the other connections and it works perfect. all for about $2.

 

the third time i starter it after putting the starter back on it started doing the same thing. click, click, click, click then it took off. im thinking that some of my leaking oil found its way into the housing and onto the brushes and commutator.

 

Just as an update mine turned out to be a bad starter.

 

Check all the connections extra good.... something else that may be but i dought it... i had starter issues last winter and it turns out that the terminals in the PDC for the relay where not making proper contact... just a thought