Hello Everyone,
I recently boughta '99 Dodge Ram 1500 w/ 5.9L.

The engine has been running very well since I bought it. One night last week, I changed the oil and ran the truck to make sure there weren't any leaks and the door latched a little and the doors were locked. I didn't worry at all since the first thing I did when I bought the truck was getting a spare key from Lowes. Turns out that the spare key will start the ignition but will not unlock the doors manually.

So, I'm stuck with my truck locked and running and I panic a little. I'm not sure why, could have been the Coors Light thinking for me but I pulled the connections off the battery thinking that maybe for some reason it might stop running and not waste gas. This obviously didn't work but I was able to get a thin piece of wood in-between the door and thebodyto roll down a window and unlock the doors / kill the engine. Since this is my spare car, I went to start it againso I could move it back outside and park my daily driver in the garage but the engine wouldn't start... all i heard was a click so I figured the battery was dead. So, I hooked the jumper cables up to my daily driver and the dodge and eventually I got it started and was able to park it in its usual spot. The next day it wouldn't start again so I had a mechanic friend come over to look at it and we jump the battery again which started it once I gave it some gas but it wouldn't idle, if I let off the gas all the way it would just die. He figured I needed a new battery plus the battery in it was several years old so I figured I would replace it.

Now is when it gets weird. Remote start was installed on the truck by a previous owner and I think that has something to do with the weird part. The weird part is that when I hook up the battery again, it tries to start. The key isn't in the ignition or anything but the truck tries to start. It tries to turn over and sounds like its about to but it just doesn't. I'm searching for how to disengage the remote start right now but I'm also wondering why the truck isn't firing up.

One side note is that when I bought the truck, the battery connectors were engulfed in corrosion. I've since cleaned off the connectors and replaced the battery but I'm wondering why there would be so much corrosion.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and any / all help is much appreciated.


Jay

 

My grandfather had a 97 Ram that had an aftermarket remote start put on it. Needless to say he had locked his keys out 50 times cause the doors automatically lock. He also had some of the same symptoms you are having which was attributed to a short in the remote start system. The truck was fine once that junk was removed. I'd try that first unless you absolutely need the remote start.

 

there should be a small switch somewhere in the truck to disable the remote start. they put it in there for mechanics and such so you can cut it off while servicing the truck. id get rid of that remote start, and replace it with a new one if you like it.

 

Ok, I found the fuses that power the remote start and I pulled them. I hooked up the battery and tried to start it with the key but it still isn't turning over. Any ideas of what I should check? It sounds like it should start but just may not be getting any fuel but prior to this bull crap it ran great with no hesitation or anything.

Any ideas?

Thanks again,
Jay

 

check and hear for the fuel pump prime sound. turn the key to on and listen for a "whirr" sound.

 

I don't hearthewhirr soundbut...

When i turn the key to run, none of the electronics turn on accept for the overhead light. I'm pretty sure the two fuses i pulled were for the remote start because they lead into a black box under the steering column and i'm able to use the key to try to start it.

 

make sure you puller the right fuse. Check basic stuff like spark and fuel.

 

Sounds like you may need some help on site. Or get it to a mechanic you trust.

Jeff

 

Sounds like you have a dead battery. From what I've read you can't jump these trucks. If the battery is dead it wont run after jumping it. Does exactly what you are describing from everything I've heard about people with dead batterys.

 

I know for a fact that the battery is not dead. I just replaced it a few days ago and when I connect the negative cable to the battery, the engine tries to start.

The only thing that makes sense is some kind of security mechanism with the remote start or OEM. I'm very hesitant to get a mechanic involved because this seems like one of those issues that could take a long time = $ to diagnose but probably an extremely simple solution.