Last weekend I helped my buddy replace the transmission in his '97 RAM 1500, 5.9 and now the starter won't disengage unless you pull the starter relay out, now here's the strange part....it will start and disengage like its supposed to with the relay removed. Got any ideas on how this is possible? We checked all wires, replaced the starter and relay. I tested the ignition switch per the FSM, but didn't replace it.

 

It will still start if you REMOVE the relay????? That's just strange. Someone has been in there before, and altered wiring. That's the only thing I can think of. I would check the starting circuit, and see what you find. (follow the wires.)

 

I think I'd try replacing the ignition switch.

 

Yep, it starts without the relay plugged in....don't make any sense to me either. It didn't have this problem before we changed the transmission, so I was wondering if there was anything we could have messed up along the way. We traced all the wires and checked everything I could think of. I guess we'll change the ignition switch next, but I hate to keep throwing expensive parts on it just to find out that it wasn't the problem. The new starter was $94, and the Ignition switch will be $62. I just thought I'd ask you guys first.

 

Are you sure you yanked the starter relay? It really shouldn't do anything at all without the relay in there...... no matter if the ignition switch is bad or not.

 

I think I pulled the starter relay, I'll attach a pic....

It's on the top left in this pic, isn't that where the starter relay goes?

 

That is really weird...I would trace the wiring with a meter...
I remember having my starter get stuck in the on running position in my corvette once from a stuck relay...I had to disconnect the battery to get it to turn off and have it flat bedded.....it was the one and only time the vette really left me stranded and needed to be towed to be repaired in 14 years I've owned it... I just wish I had luck like that with my truck..

 

Yep, that should indeed be where the starter relay goes....... You need to trace the wiring, starting at the starter, and find out where the little wire goes, and what's spliced into it. Seems someone has bypassed the relay.

 

maybe a remote was put in?

 

Ok, I'll trace the wires again. I found that the little wire goes into a connector by the fuse box, which also has the little wire coming from the battery. The other end of the connector goes into the fuse box. I checked the wires with a meter and somehow there is voltage flowing to the starter solenoid without the relay installed. I'm wondering if the connector is bad, allowing power to cross over to the starter wire. Maybe I'll replace that next.