(tried to post earlier this morning after using Google as a login, not sure it went through, so I've registered with a different email and am reposting this evening)

Hi all,

my 1998 5.7L Ram is in decent shape but used very infrequently.
It used to start just fine when cold, but recently started to give me this problem when warm: key in, dash lights come on, turn key... nothing happens. no crank, no click, no dimming of dash lights.
If I switch headlights on and turn the key, the lights also don't dim.

I had this problem 3 times when warm. Battery in all cases was pretty healthy ; one time I had it topped up with a trickle charger overnight, another time the problem happened after a 2 hour round-trip when i stopped to refill gas.
In all these three cases, the truck restarted fine after waiting some minutes (maybe 30min, 15 and 40 the last time).

But this morning, this no-crank problem happened with a cold truck.
FYI, the truck was parked outside for maybe 6 weeks since the last time I used it. Battery had been quick-disconnected and showed 12.4V when I just reconnected it.

Any thoughts, folks ?

Thanks in advance.

 

Might want to load test the battery and the starter. Either one could be on their way out and are intermittent as of now, based on your description. Also, check to ensure all battery & ground connections are clean and tight.

Lastly, is your engine a 5.2 or a 5.9 magnum?

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

It is a 5.9L indeed (8th VIN letter is Z).

Cheers