I'm so amazingly broke, but almost every time i go to start the beast i have to give the starter a couple taps with a hammer. Ive had 2 rams and both have had this problem, maybe someone has also had this happen.

I would like to take the starter off the truck tomorrow, take as much of it appart tomorrow and clean her out with some break clean, or degreaser. I dont want to disturbe the brushes if i dont have to, but i might try and clean them up a bit.

Any thoughts???

 

If you have to tap it to get it so start, then that means that your solenoid is getting stuck and your starter will soon enough leave you stuck in the middle of know where...on a rainy day. I don't think cleaning it will do any good. Doesn't hurt to try though...report back. You've peaked my interest.

 

I will take as many pics as i can and if it works i will post a DIY and save some people some money

 

Something to keep in mind though.... if something is 'broke' inside, and falls apart on disassembly...... you are in deep kimche.

 

Kimche...nicely put.

 

When you pull it off you can take it down to advance and have them test it (if they still do that) it might be something thats cheap

 

go for it. you are looking to inspect/clean/resurface the solenoid contact, commutator slots, and check the condition of the brushes. use a small screwdriver to scrape the brush residue from the slots of the commutator.

here's a pic of the solenoid rebuild kit.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...em=#vi-content

here's the brushes. (caution diesel vs gas).
http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/default.htm
http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/dodgetruck.html

 

Odds are that the solenoid contacts need replacing. I have found this to be a very common problem on the newer mopar starters. Kits are cheap and repair time is less than an hour for the first go round.

 

Well i didnt get deep enough into it to make a DIY, but it worked!

I took the starter off, removed the main motor and openedd that up as much as it would go. I couldnt get the center portion out of the body so i just soaked it all with some electrical connector cleaner, cleaned it up right away.
Then i took the solenoid and opened that up and i could see right off the bat that the battery --> starter contact was arced away badly. So i took the contact out and filed it down flat and then bent it in a little more. When you see it you will know.

Put her back together and she starts no problem now. Before I did the fix today i couldnt even start it without hitting it with a hammer. After i put it back in now it starts no probem, nice and strong