Hello All!

I have been having an issue with my 04 Dakota Quad Cab (4.7L, Automatic Transmission) recently that is frustrating me to no end- There are days I'll go out to start her up, and she'll turn right over... then (sometimes the same day, even 15 minutes later) I'll go to try to start her again, and nothing but a click. Most of the time, with a few repeated turns of the key (often accompanied by considerable swearing), I can get her to turn over, but it's starting to concern me because the other night it took almost 20 minutes to get her going again (Of course she would start AFTER I had roadside assistance coming... I was in work clothes still, in a public parking lot without tools, so not much in the way of choices).

This all started after a terrible cold spell in January of this year, which first made me think it's was the battery- which I promptly got tested, and it was only putting out about 350CCA, so I replaced it... and the problem continued.

So now I'm down to two thoughts- The starter, or the ignition switch itself.

My first line of thinking is to replace the starter, as when I turn the key, I do hear a distinct CLICK like it's trying to engage, but can't... then sometimes it'll start to crank, and fall off, and then pick up on the next key turn.

BUT- I've also heard that Dodge doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to ignition switches either...

So I've come to the best group of experts I know- OTHER OWNERS - for help.

Thanks in advance for anything advice you can give!

 

If you are hearing the click when you turn the key to start, the ignition switch is doing it's job. So, either the starter relay, or the starter itself is likely the issue.

Check wiring connections first, make sure everything is clean, and tight. Swap the starter relay with another one, see if the problem goes away. If it doesn't, replace the starter.

 

Thanks! I'll give that a go when I get home this evening.

 

Single click = starter. Next time it acts up, have someone knock the starter with a hammer, lug tool, etc., while you turn the key to crank position. If it starts, there goes your proof.

 

So I checked out the relay, and that didn’t seem to be the issue (I swapped it for the Fog Light relay, and the problem continued).

The next morning, I was able to start her up and move her to the street so I could power wash the front of my house. I came back a couple hours later to move her back- no dice on starting, not even with repeated key turns.

Then I tried something new- I took her out of park, down to neutral, and back up to park, hard, and wouldn’t you know it, she turned right over.

I spent some time talking with my dad and uncle last night (both old school shade tree mechanics) who agree that it’s likely time to just replace the starter, so that’s my next step I guess.

 

Actually, that sounds alot like the neutral safety switch...

 

Isn't the neutral safety switch in the control circuit for the starter relay though? If that was the problem, I would think the starter relay wouldn't even click........

 

There is the starter relay, little click, or the starter solenoid (integral), much louder click.

Both are part of the control circuit - ignition key.

The neutral safety switch is part of the transmission solenoid assembly.

I had a similar problem once, the starter had come loose so wasn't grounded properly. I'm betting it's the starter.