Hi. I've found various answers to this all over the internet about this issue, but I wanted to see if anyone here would have an idea.

My 2000 Durango (5.9L V8, Automatic, 2wd) hasn't been reliably starting on the first turn of the ignition. I will often get a single click and nothing happens. After a few more tries, it will often start itself. I've heard it could be the battery, corroded terminals, the starter/solenoid, or alternator.

I've replaced both the positive and negative terminals that connect to the battery and ensured that they are securely connected (with no room to wiggle it around). I have not been able to reach the connections at what I assume to be the starter (by following battery cables) to see if they are loose.

Within the past week I took my car to Midas for an oil change and they inspected the battery and gave me a CCA reading of 789 (still trying to learn what this is). I have not tested with a voltemeter to see what it reads at, but when the car has been started, the dash shows it at what I've noticed every other car to be at.

If there are any suggestions as to what the issue is, I would be happy to hear them. I'm hoping to work on this issue myself, and depending on what the suggestions would be I will go from there. I'm not much of a mechanic myself, so I'm not always 100% on all the "lingo" quite yet.

Thank you for the help.

 

Are you sure that the battery cables have a good connection at the PDC and at the starter? Those connections can corrode just as easily as those at the battery. Beyond that try swapping the starter relay with another one in the PDC just to see if that makes a difference (it probably won't), and check to make sure the starter is good. Also, try putting it in neutral and starting it, it is possible that your neutral safety switch may be acting up.

 

it is also possible that the power cable are corroding UNDERNEATH the insulation and you cant see it, this would require you to replace the cables.

 

I checked the connections elsewhere and no noticeable corrosion. I took it to get the battery tested and it was showing no issues. There was also no change after switching relays in the PDC. Getting the starter tested next. I have considered getting the cables replaced as well shrpshtr325. Didn't think of that initially.

 

Had the same problem.

Battery tested good, starter tested good.

Replaced cables, also added another ground.

In the end it was a bad starter.

 

tieron the term cca = Cold Cranking Amps it what gives your battery the juice to start the truck if it to low then theres a chance that your starter wont turn over. but your starter might be going bad. good luck

 

Had the same problem about a year ago.. there is a dead spot in the starter... also i would not trust any of the auto stores battery, alt or starter tests... i have had many cases where parts tested good when they where bad.

 

Try hitting the starter with a piece of a 2x4 a few times

 

It ended up being the starter after all. The cables were replaced as well, so I don't doubt that it was the combination of the two, but the guy at the shop said it was definitely the starter after doing tests on everything else first. Thank you all for the help.