I have a 2005 Dodge Dakota and it will not start sometimes. It's completely dead when you turn the key to run. I have turned the steering wheel until it will not turn anymore and then I push it backwards a couple of feet then it will start. Today that did not work. Any ideas of what the issue is?

 

I will move this to the 3rd Generation Dakota Sub-forum.

 

Welcome to the forum. Let me see if I understand you: You go to start your truck and it's dead. No clicking or anything? You then crank the steering wheel till it hits the stop, get out and push the truck backwards a couple of feet. Then it would start. Except now it wont start doing that. Correct? Starting with the basics, I have to ask first, have you checked your battery? The battery connections? Can't really comment on the cranking the wheel and pushing it a few feet....the result of that causing your truck to start sometimes sounds like pure coincidence. Unless somehow your ignition switch is going bad. Someone else will chime in I'm sure.

 

If the original battery, 2005 or 2006 is about right for them to start to go. My wife's 2006 Durango battery (original) was at just under half capacity when we bought it almost two years ago. I replaced it right away, even though it wasn't that hard to start with. I won't take chances in the winters we get up here.

First thing I'd do is take the battery to Advance Auto or O'Reillys or any other auto parts store that does free battery testing.

 

have you tried starting it in neutral, may be a safety switch issue

 

I bet you put it in neutral to move it. I wonder if a switch is bad.

 

The battery is only 3 months old. I have gotten it to start by turning the wheel to the left, until it stops, putting it in neuteral and pushing it backwards a couple of feet about 5 times now. The day I posted this that did not work, but after a few hours of the truck sitting where it was pushed I was able to start it. I haven't had the issue in the last 4 days. It doesn't happen everytime I go to start it. Hoping that helps with more suggestions as to what it might be. Thanks for the help so far.