I have a 2003 Dodge Dakota/ 4 door/ Automatic Trans/ 4wd/ 4.7 engine. I noticed a couple of weeks ago (when it was raining) that it would not turn over when attempting to start. I had to try 2 or 3 times before it finally turned over and started. All that was heard was a singe loud click. It has continued to happen periodically. Yesterday it was raining again and it happened again. This morning it happened again (not raining but cold) and it took a lot more turns of the key before it started (5-6). I'm thinking it's time for a new starter. Anything else I should check first? Any tests I could do on the starter to make sure that's the problem so I'm not wasting my money?

 

Single click = Starter. Next time it "clicks", have someone hold the key in cranking position while you knock the starter with lug tool or hammer, etc. Should jump to life, proving that it's the starter. Also a trick that can get you going if you're in a jam.