I have a 1999 dodge ram 2500 4x4 witha 5 speed tranny. Today when i went to leave for work it wouldnt start. I checked the battery and it was fine with a load test. I noticed a small red light blinking on the dash. i thought I may have had an anti theft problem. later on after a vin check i found out my truck doesnt have anti theft on it.
now everything works except the heater blower wont go on. I have lights and radio, wippers, signal and hazard lights.
when I put the key into the run position no instrument (like check engine or abs) lights go on.
So for some reason and correct me if im wrong the computer wont let the truck turn over or start.
now this part is driving me nuts. I put a scanner on it and it came up that it is unable to link up. so I think its the scanner cause it isnt a very good one. So i get a better one (OTC i beleive) from my neighbor. It cant link up either.
So now I try to read any voltage at the sensors. I dont have any voltage at all. I call a friend that works for dodge in cape cod. (about 3 hrs away from me)
when I told him the story he told me it may be the crank sensor and to unplug it from the harness and see if the computer comes back online so I can check the codes.
I unplugged it and still have the problem.
I also unplugged alot of other sensors one at a time looking to see if there was a bad one. I had no luck.

Im totally lost. i ran out of places to look. The truck ran fine last night. I drive it every day.

anyone have any ideas?

thanks
Pat

 

Maybe the ignition switch just stopped working. Remove the covers from the steering column and check the wires. If you have tilt wheel sometimes they rub through and or break.

Edit: I would also check the ground wires under the hood and all fuses and relays.

 

I checked all fuses and relays and swapped them out and no difference.
I dont have tilt but I did check the wires and all looks good.
Now when you say ignition switch are you talking about where the key actually goes in? or where all the wires plug into?

I did take out the 1 bolt that holds the wires in. i was looking for anything that looked burned. I had no luck. it all was clean

I did check and test all grounds

 

I had a similar problem and it was my main power lead coming off the battery, it looked fine but internally must have been crappy, use a volt meter and make sure you are getting 12 volts at the end of the power feed.

 

+1

that red light on the dash is usually indicative of a dead battery if I ain't crazy.. or, at least it is on my truck.. if your battery is good its likely the connection.. I'm hoping for you that it isn't your PCM.. that would suck.

 

I just thru a battery charger on it. Just to try it since I tried everything else.
It still wouldnt turn over and the red light is still blinking away.

Is there a way to test the PMC?

This is driving me nuts!