Hi, I own a 98 dodge ram and have been having starting issues for past year. I dont use the truck often just for getting stuff around when needed. Only like 300 miles this year.

Since about January, it would take a couple tries to start it. Just kept turning the key over and over till it started to crank. When it didnt crank i could hear a 1 click noise every time i turned the key After the first start of the day and drove it it would start right up no problem.

Now in December it doesn’t wanna crank at all. Sometimes it will crank for a second then stop. Just one audible click noise from engine every key turn.



Things Ive tried:

-Changed the postive and negative battery terminals and cleaned the wires.

-Took the battery to get tested and charged. Battery is fine

-Swapped the blower and starter relay. Blower works and they both are the same

-Took out the starter and took it to both autozone and advanced auto to be tested both passed and the values it displayed where way more than the minimum.

-I do hear a buzzing noise when all the lights turn on so i assume the fuel pump works.
video:
https://streamable.com/98gxzf

 

I still think you have a bad starter. The one click you hear is the relay. If the starter doesn't engage, it's bad.

 

what are the chances the bench test would say passed when its actually bad twice? I saw it physically spin when on the bench.

 

No load on the bench.

 

There is one test you can do, verify you are getting power at the S terminal on the solenoid with the key in the start position. Anything over nine volts is considered 'acceptable'. If you get more than nine volts there, and the stater doesn't do anything, that's a bad starter.

 

so i did this test and voltage was good. I just decided to put the be old starter back after cleaning the terminals and wires down there.

When I took out the starter originally i broke the ignition switch bolt and had to use some copper wires to reattach it to the starter. Cables in there were so thin. Anyway after putting the starter back. It started up instantly. The sound is different too. I tried couple starts and it was good. Ill try tomorrow morning to confirm.

The unit that was in was remanufactured so someone changed it at some point. Maybe the people who did the remanufactured it cheaped out.

 

Oh come on. We all know that never happens.......

 

anyway thanks for everyones help. Glad I can still use this truck. Not daily but very useful in a lot lf situations.