2001 Dodge 2500 Diesel Automatic

Sometimes--getting more often--I turn the ignition switch & nothing happens--turn it again & it starts, but now when nothing happens when I turn it--it may take 2 or 3 turns to get it to engage. Someone said it maybe the ground on the starter needs cleaning, but I am thinking more towards the ignition switch itself. It is not the battery--plenty of power.

UPDATE: I pulled the starter & checked the Solenoid Contacts & they were toast. It seems this is a very common problem & LarryB's sells a rebuild kit for about $25. It looks like a cheap pretty easy change out---so that's where I am headed.

 

start by cleaning your battery terminals and cables. then tapping on the side of the starter with a hammer.

listen for any sounds. also turn on the headlights and notice whether they dim or not as an indication that its drawing power. my daughter's 4runner decided to not start one day. i could hear a solid CLICK from the starter, but it wouldn't dim the lights, draw power, or turn. i removed it and did a bench test - no turn. i took it apart and found the grooves in the commutator were gummed up with conductive brush material. i scraped the grooves with a screwdriver and it started working fine again (for awhile). a year later it did it again and i had to replace it.

 

last one of these we saw was because of an excessively dirty main power cable AT the starter motor. It does hang out in a rather inhospitable environment.....

 

Thanks Guys, I will start with these & go from there.

Note; I have noticed sometimes when turning off the ignition, the key pulls out & the power is still on, then I turn the switch (without the key) toward me to get it to lock & turn off the juice. I am still thinking a worn out ignition switch.

 

The switch does sound funky, I'd replace it, and while the steering column covers are off, check all the wires . Especially if you have a tilt wheel.

 

i agree with Zman, i had a blinker problem a while ago, and i pulled the steering column and found 2 melted wires, and by the way the melted wires WERE NOT my problem, and i had no idea what these wires did.....but i fixed them anyways.......i have tilt wheel as well, and maybe this was the source of that issue.

 

Well I replaced the Ignition Switch & the Starter Relay, but I still get the same problem. I have noticed when trying to start it, I have noticed a "clicking" sound which seems to coming from the starter before she finally starts.. After this, I am now leaning toward a loose connection/ground or a bad starter solenoid.

I will let you know how it goes.