02 dakota w/4.7l motorhas trouble getting started. all tests were done by a highly qualified shop with all the latest equipment,updated software to handle all major vehicles up to and including 04' vehicles. as a result, the truck in question shows no trouble with any sensors ,no check engine light,all systems are functioning as they should.but,it still won't start correctly as a vehicle should.this is to say that at times after the truck has been parked for any short or long period of time,you could sit there and be cranking the motor 2,3,4,times before it actually runs on its own.dodge has no tsb's or service bulletins about this problem.but then sometimes it will start like striking a match..i just don't know when.this problem has been getting worse since new.it started out like 1 in 50. now it's45 in50.yes it has poor mielage and power,why didn't they put the hemi in this truck first? horsepower,compression,handeling,all poor.this truck engine should have been designed with 40 more hp,then maybe it could get out of it's own way. it just sucks.........

 

dirty fuel injectors

 

Maybe your truck sucks. . . Does it stuter while driving? If you ask me it could also be the fuel pump. . .

 

as much as I hate when things go wrong, I still LOVE my Dakota! I had a 2001 Grand Am before this and had very few problems, things happen, and while at the moment we are pissed off, you realize that all vehicles will have some type of "fix". But anyway. Believe it or not, my 2001 Grand Am had that type of problem. The starter would turn, but the engine wouldn't want to turn over, or maybe I should say it wouldn't want to start (like it wasn't getting fuel). So I took it to the GMC garage in my town (because they are probably the best dealership in town and still a GM dealer) and they found the fuel injectors to be extremely dirty. Even if you use fuel injector cleaner, it still won't keep them completely clean. Otherwise like reconstrucktion said, a fuel pump would be your next guess. Try this. turn they key to the last position before actually starting it (I think it would be considered the ON position). With the radio off, listen for a "humming" noise. It should be anywhere from 2-5 seconds long and then it should quit. If you hear that, that is your fuel pump. Its pumping fuel to the injectors before starting. If you don't hear that, it may not be working! Also, check your plugs. Maybe having a misfire somewhere??

Hooby

 

I am a newbie here, with a starting problem too. '97 Dakota 3.9 will not even crank sometimes. Intermittently won't activate the starter. Sometimes I can run the shifter throught the gears, then it will start. Other times I can set or release the E-brake, and it will then start. Checked the battery, seems fine. I can hear the fuel pump when key on.
Checked the neutral switch, not loose, wiring at the trans looks normal. Maybe the starter relay is intermittent? Looked over the fuses, nothing noted there. Next I'll look under the dash to see if any wiring is hanging on the e-brake assembly. Any thoughts?

 

".... will not even crank sometimes. Intermittently won't activate the starter."
I'm having (or, up until last week WAS having) that problem. I am suspecting a faulty starter or a faulty starter solenoid.
When this happens, I turn they key to start the truck, but, all I hear is a "clink" from the starter solenoid, but it does not engage (does not even turn the engine).
Sometimes it takes me up to 10 times to turn the key to "Start" to actually get it to turn the motor (and than of course it starts).
I don't think it would be the starter relay (since they seem to be very reliable), but, their only $10 at an auto parts store, so you might as well give it a try.
If the relay doesn't fix it, make sure all the electical connections (including the ones TO the starter relay and the starter itself) are good, tight, corrosion free, etc.
Chances are, if its not a poor connection, its the starter or solenoid (and the solenoid itself is not replaceable on these).
Post back with results.

 

HI,..FIRST I WANT TO THANK ALL FOR YOUR INPUT AND IDEAS.I DIDN'T WANT TO POST UNTIL I TRIED AFEW THINGS,AND LET YOU KNOW THE RESULTS,..SO HERE GOES....REPLACED CAM POS. SENSOR,CRANK POS SENSOR,NEW GAS CAP,TROTTLE POS SENSOR,IDLE AIR SENSOR;ALL TO NO AVAIL.TRUCK STILL HAS ORIGINAL STARTING PROBLEM,OH!! REPLACED FUEL PUMP AT 75,000MILES..TRUCK HAS 104,00 MILES NOW.AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM..HELP!!

 

First off, does the starter actually crank the motor and the motor doesn't start running, or does the starter not even engage? If the latter part is true, do you hear the solenoid "click"?
Also, is your truck automatic or manual?

 

Try pulling one or more plugs after an unsuccessful starting attempt. If they are wet it's probably a spark problem, if they're dry it's probably a fuel problem.

 

TRUCK IS AUTOMATIC,AND THE ENGINE DOES CRANK BUT NO START UNLESS I KEEP CRANKING IT FOR ABOUT 6 TO 10 SECONDS.