When I turn key to start position, pulls all available juice, everything electrical dies, battery drops to under 1 volt. Stays there until I disconnnect the ground, then comes back to 12.6 volts. A little background: Before this, alternator wasn't charging, got code for field voltage. and it tested good. Reinstalled and problem went away. Starting problem began. First, I got clicks like a low voltage to the solenoid, but would start ok with a jump or battery booster. Battery seemed like it was draining and it was over 5 years old, so I replaced it. Battery has 630 cold cranking amps. It still starts if I hook up booster. I figure the possibles are the starter solenoid, the starter, or the ignition switch has a short drawing all available juice. I'm thinking the ignition switch woulda smoked if it was drawing that kind of juice, so it must be the starter or solenoid. Sound like I'm on the right track? Any ideas?

 

I would get your battery checked.I have had new ones that were no good.A couple years ago I had to get 3 from autozone before I got a good one.It had me thinking that I had other problems also.The guy at autozone told me that they got a bad batch of batterys in but they sold them anyway.

 

My old battery tested good, but I replaced it anyway since it was almost 6 years old. New battery made no difference. Tried to start, battry voltage dropped to < 1V. Started pulling fuses and relays, had everything start and ignition related pulled and battery came back to 5+Volts. Disconnected ground and came back to 12.6 Volts. Pulled starter, tested ok. Man! Dodge could win an award for engine component inaccesability! Anyway, gonna reinstall starter tomorrow. Last thing I worked on before the starting problem, was the alternator. It seems to be charging ok, but the voltage jumps around a little while it's charging, varies 2 or 3 tenths of a volt while it's charging. Is that normal? Something was drawing too much current while starting and now it's drawing enough to pull down the battery even with the key off. How many components are connected directly to the positive?