Hi everyone,
I have a 1992 dodge W150 with the 318 and an auto transmission.
The boyfriend started it up this morning (started great as usual) and drove it to work. He parked it for about an hour or so and then went to start it again and gets nothing. No crank at all, no clicking...
The interior lights are bright and the heater is running strong.
Do starters just suddenly go?? When the starter in my old Tempo went I think I remember it gradually going....
I've never had any problems starting it before (except for when the fuel pump went a couple months ago, which boyfriend and I replaced on our own)
How do I find out exactly what it is?... I'm pretty mechanically retarded and a student so I would like to try to fix whatever it is without taking it into a shop.
Thanks a bunch!!

 

Starters can quit suddenly but not usually. Use an old screw driver and jump the large terminal to the small terminal on the starter. If you get nothing pull the starter and have it tested at a parts store. If it starts let us know and we will help you further.

 

Okay I'll give it a try soon as I can get a ride to the truck. Thanks.

 

Check the starter relay. It might be bad or might not be grounded well enough, such as dirty connections or rust under it.

 

Also check the neutral safety switch on the side of the trans. It has three wires and a molded plug. If it is off or greasy it will keep the truck from cranking. I think a new switch is around $10-$15 at most part stores. It is threaded and screws into the trans. Put a new one on mine not long ago and I had same problem except mine would only do it when the dew was setting right at dark. Most other times it would crank right up.

 

i think you are a bit misinformed. if you remove the plug from the neutral safety switch your truck should start whether your truck is in park, neutral or in gear. when i had mine unplugged i could start my truck in drive.

 

did you ever find the problem? Mine is doing the exact same thing, but I know the starter and neutral switch are fine.

 

I had this problem a couple months ago. I replaced the ground connection and off we went.

 

when i got my truck, there was a push-button starter...at first i'd have to use it alot, but i haven't in a while...been starting with the key....