Wife called said truck wont start on this 99 degree day. I check it out battery has like 12.5 volts. No click nothing on key turn but all accessories run fine. Crawl under truck bang on starter and it works. Goto parts store buy starter remove and replace and still no more crank. I can feel the relay in the pdc click on start attempts. Also have full voltage to large red wire on starter. Not sure how to test the small weather tight wire. Any advice would be great. 2001 ram 1500 5.9l gasser 4x4 64000miles

 

check with multimeter.
large wire has 12v constant from battery.
small wire has 12v only when you turn the key, and only if the relay in pdc connects power to it.

also consider neutral safety switch on auto or clutch/neutral sw on manual. those will lock out the starter and give you no relay click in the pdc. you might can try trans in neutral instead of park, also jiggle the shifter around a little to see if the symptom change any.

also check for good ground at the starter itself. should be fine but if corroded up, might need scraping or brushing.

do you still have the old starter. you can bench test it.

 

Well I must be the neutral safety switch as is starts in neutral. I also noticed that the gear select indicator is not accurate. Looks good with park but drive is not lined up its closer to second? Any ideas? Also the transmission was recently rebuilt so should I take it back to them for adjustment or is this not something involved with the replacement? Thanks for your help!!!

 

Well the PRNDL indicator in the dash is actuated by a rod or cable under the dash I think, and there's a post somewhere in here about how to adjust it. But yeah, I have to agree, if you're starting up when you put it in neutral, there could be a linkage that needs adjusting, or your neutral safety switch did indeed crap the bed.

 

the PRNDL indicator adjusts with a small wheel behind the knee panel. but it it just adjusts from the linkage position, and has nothing directly to do with your no start problem.

i don't know whether there's actually anything to adjust at the neutral safety switch. it just screws into the trans, and is actuated by the internals of the trans. i'd just replace it. its a little hard to get to. drivers side of trans, electrical connector just above the pan lip. large size socket (and deep), about 1 inch or 1-1/16. it has to be a thin wall socket, like a oil pressure sending unit. a thick wall impact won't work.

 

Well it goes back to the transmission shop tomorrow. They have to tighten the pinch bolt on the lever that connects the shift linkage to the tranny. It's loose and wobbly! As near as I can figure that play is what is giving me the no start in park. I also noticed it doesn't shift all the way into one either.All the other bushings look good. Happy day tomorrow at the shop! NOT
Thanks for all the help!