I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 3.9L V6. It has about 141k miles on it, and I recently replaced the spark plugs, and water pump, however, when I went to start it the other day, it was taking a little longer than normal to start. THe starter was not cranking the entire time, just from the key turn until the truck started was delayed...but only by a few seconds. After a 30 minute drive, I let the truck set for about 15 minutes, and when I went to restart it, the started cranked once before turning over. Thinking it was the starter, I went to take it off to have it tested, but the guy that was taking it off for me couldn't get the last bolt (the one with the cable attached) to come loose and he didn't want to mess anything up. SInce he was doing it for free, I told him to just put the bolts back in, and I would have my dad look at it next week. When we re-attached the battery cables, the truck took even longer to start, and sounded like it wasn't getting enough power to start the truck. I just replaced the battery in March, so it cant be bad. The battery connectors are new...but maybe a problem with one of the ground or hot wires after they leave the battery connecter? I have no clue what else would be causing this. Has anyone else had these problems?

 

the started cranked once before turning over

Its hard to diagnose it try this....

Crank.... .means to spin the engine over and over,
START.means to actually have the engine run
if it doesnt crank when you turn the key, its either getting power to the starter and it cant do anything with it
or it isnt making the trip to the starter, that is what you need to find out.
the solenoids on our trucks go out and act like what you are saying., but you have to check it out

 

The engine only cranked twice, and that was after we attempted to pull the starter off. Before that, it was just delayed a few seconds after the key turn to start. Never any cranking or anything, until our failed attempt to get the starter off. Could it be some sort of, for lack of a better word, gunk, built up between the wire on the solenoid and the nuts that are holding it on? If so, is there a way, without taking it off (my friend doesnt want to be responsible for breaking my truck), to get the "gunk" off? Maybe WD40? To help create the connection?

 

What you describe sounds like either a bad relay in the power distribution center or a lousy starter solenoid. First things first, check the easy part: Swap the starter relay with the blower motor relay in the power distribution center (on the driver's side fenderwell, under the hood -- there's a legend inside the lid to tell you which is which). If that fixes it, go get a new relay and put it in the starter relay socket, moving the blower motor relay back to where it came from.

If that doesn't fix it, you've probably got a bad starter solenoid.

Don't spray anything on the starter terminals trying to improve the connection. It won't work, and will make the starter more prone to fail in the future -- WD-40 traps dust like nothing else. If the connection is corroded, remove the cables and physically clean the terminals.

 

I had the same issue last month. delayed response after key turned, slow starts, then eventually nothing at all. Solenoid bit the dust. New starter and all is well.