Ok heres the deal. I have had this Ram for 7 years and it has spent all its days in the midwest and never garaged. Its been well maintained and never taken offroad.
Im down in Florida with her and she just started this very hard start / slow start. Its like the battery is about dead but my amp meter still shows over 14 like normal. It turns over very slow and then starts right up. Ive even had it do the click click click deal like theres no juice left.
One time it would do the slow turn over then when it started it chugged and shook like it had a HUGE cam in it. I had to feather the gas pedal to keep it running.
Funny thing is my check engine light has been on for years because i had the computer redone and the truck ran great. Now that this is happening the check engine light is off and it starts like crap.
Any help would be great.

 

Take it to a parts store that can do a battery/starter test ON the vehicle. See what starter draw looks like, I suspect it's time for a new one.

 

I was thinking the starter seeing its the original. Battery was new last year but ya just never know with those.
Ill check the starter out tomorrow. Thanks for the info.

 

Are the battery terminals clean and tight?

 

+1 on remove the battery cables and clean them and the posts. charge the battery and then have it tested.

your voltage gauge can read 14 volts which is the output of the alternator even when the battery is dead or about dead.

 

Battery terminals are clean and tight. Ill have the battery checked also. Ordered starter and Ill be putting that in just because the one thats in the truck is the original.

Ill post the results.

 

I had this same sort of issue with my 98 dodge when I first got it. Replaced the spark plugs, distributer cap, and rotor, and that quit the slow starting. It still had the problem where occasionally wouldnt start and it would just click click click. I cleaned the terminals and it fixed it for a little bit. then it did it again, i cleaned the terminals and posts again. the next time it did it, I went to take the terminal off and it broke off. That was definitely the problem on mine lol. I got a new terminal for the one that broke off and it hasnt acted up since

 

You do know that you can pull the starter and have it tested also, don't you? Parts swapping to diagnose is the most expensive and least effective method.

Also check the ground wires and their connections to make sure the care clean and tight.

 

Well took off the battery cables and cleaned them and the battery terminals. I took it to Advance Auto and they tested the battery with the a/c on full blast, headlights on high and the radio on. Looks like the battery was a little low but I had only ran in 10 minutes after doing the cleaning.
I went out this morning and tried to start it..........and yep she fired right up. So yeah cleaning the terminals and cables did the trick. They didnt look corroded but after taking them off I could see they had corrosion.

I will still be putting a new battery, new starter and a new alternator just because.

Thanks for the input.

GD
USMC