I have a '99 Dakota 3.9 V-6 that turns over briefly (though it struggles) before it stops turning and just clicks. Attempting to jump start the truck didn't change anything. I have a charger on the battery right now to bring it up to 12 volts, but it was reading 10.4 to 10.6 when I checked. I tried swapping the starter relay with another relay of the same part number, no change.

I feel like I'm looking at a bad starter but I won't be able to get under the truck to check for power to the starter until I can get it towed back home, and that will be a little while. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.

 

For starters (groan!) you need WAY more than 10 volts to crank an engine. It's possible that the existing battery is shoved so jumping won't help. Try disconnecting the existing battery and stick a temporary in there. If voltages are good then your assumption about the starter is spot on. Make sure the connections are all clean and in good shape. Has this truck been driven regularly or are you just getting it on the road?

 

Great advice here. Once you have functional voltage and if it turns out to be the starter..... you can have someone hold the key in the crank position, while you knock the starter body with a hammer, lug tool, etc. That usually gets it started, so you're not shelling out for a tow. Most Daks are tall enough for you to slide under without jacking it up, if your starter is underneath. Bring a piece of cardboard.

 

Thank you both for your responses. When I went out yesterday and took the truck off the charger, it started up. It wanted to die off, and that's an issue we've been having with it. Starting it and having to hold the throttle for about 30 seconds to a minute to keep it from dying off again. However, I got it started up yesterday and once I knew it wasn't going to die off, I was able to drive it home. Even stopping to fill up I was able to start it back up at that point.

To answer your question, patchelect, the truck is driven regularly. It's a daily driver. When I have an extra set of hands later today I'm going to try checking the voltage to the starter itself. I recently replaced the terminals that attach the wires to the battery and cleaned the contacts up while doing so, the wires look fine as far as what I can see without tearing anything apart to expose more. I might try using another battery, as you said, though.

When I went out this morning to try and start it, it didn't want to start again. Same thing, turns over sluggishly a few times followed by rapid clicking. I checked the battery voltage, again it was around 10 volts, so I put a charger on it again. Charger did not do the trick this time, though. Even once the battery was at 12 volts it did the same thing. As I said, when I have an extra set of hands later today I plan to check the starter and solenoid.

 

I think you have a weak battery. Take it and get it load tested.

Volts aren't a good indicator as to condition. You can have 12+ volts but when you turn the key and put a load on it it probably can't supply enough amps. replacement terminal ends are also a weak spot - replace the cables instead.

Try measuring across the battery while cranking. I'm betting it drops right off.

You could also measure voltage drop from one end of each cable to the other.

Dakota's hate low/weak batteries. The PCM is pretty sensitive to low voltage.

 

Thank you for the advice. I'll do that as soon as I'm able, as I would certainly rather replace the battery as opposed to the starter. Once I have done so I'll edit this post with what I learn and whether that fixes the problem or not. I also still plan to swap to a different battery and try to start it that way when I'm able to.

I appreciate y'all taking the time to offer some advice and try to help out. You guys rock

 

The battery could be weak, or not getting charged properly. The latter would be a weak or failing alternator.

 

I took the battery to our local O'Reilly's Auto Parts, had it load tested, and when I came back after the hour or so they said to wait the person I that was helping me said the battery was fine. When they tried to test it again with me present, however, the machine gave a output that said to charge it first. I was also in such a rush to get it out of the truck and to the store before it got dark that I didn't notice the battery was bloated.

A new battery fixed the problem. Starts fine, even starts without bogging down and wanting to die off from a cold start.

Thanks for the responses, advice, and help. It's appreciated. Now it's on to the fuel pump open code in our Ford Escort.

 

Thanks for the update.