Hi all, thanks for reading.

Yesterday I went to start my 2007 Dakota with the 4.7L 217073km and it wouldn't crank but the starter was clicking like it wanted to. The problem? Dead battery. For some reason the reverse lights were stuck on all the time. It ended up being the circular trailer port when it is plugged in the reverse lights are stuck on and if I unplug it they remain off. That's weird for me because there are no shorts on the connector itself. I assume the plug on the truck has water in it and when it's plugged in it travels across.

I left it there yesterday because I got the lights off. Did not try to start it but it was starting when I boosted the battery before I figured out the issue with the lights. Put it on charge and walked away.

Today it doesn't even try to crank I can't hear the starter clicking and I do not have P R N D 1 2 lighting up on my dash and no reverse lights showing when the truck is in reverse unless I plug in the trailer connector and they stay on all the time again. Even with the key off/out of vehicle and doors locked. Pulling out the reverse light fuse does not kill the lights and I've tried all other fuses that mention lights. The gear lights do not come on if I put the trailer connector back on.

I will mention that there is some sort of sensor on the drivers side of the transmission. 2 wires going to it. About under the driver's seat. I took that off, cleaned it, and put it back thinking it may be the reverse light switch but that didn't solve anything. What is that? I don't believe I tried starting the truck after I messed with that sensor. Secured by 1 - 8mm bolt and going inside the trans is a black cylinder about 1" wide and 2" deep roughly. It was solid and I couldn't push it in and out I don't think it is designed to move in and out its a solid casing. Maybe works off magnets? I'm not sure.

There are also 2 connectors behind the driver front wheel. I unplugged them to try and figure out the reverse lights. They are plugged back in with the red locking pin. One does have the reverse lights in it and one doesn't.

I also unplugged the 2 connectors that mount to the side of of fuse box. Put them back with the red locking pin. I'm pretty certain they're different connectors so I couldn't have mixed them up putting it back together but could have disconnecting them messed something up?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

Also does not start with remote start by locking 3 times.

 

Crazy question, but have you tested, or had tested, the battery? Sometimes a low battery triggers weird things with these trucks.

 

Not load tested but its only a 2 year old battery. Never had problems cranking before even in -35° C. It worked perfectly fine on Monday night then Tuesday morning the reverse lights were stuck on but the truck still ran when I boosted it then yesterday afternoon it doesn't crank.

Edit: I can jumper the starter relay and it cranks just fine but doesn't fire. Could it be my neutral safety switch? Could that cause no reverse lights and no gear selector icons?

Edit: I removed the negative battery lead and jiggled the 2 wire harness connectors by the fuse box. Put the negative back on after a couple minutes. I still have no gear icons but the motor now cranks with the key, starts, then dies after a couple seconds. If i try to restart it cranks and farts a couple times. If I take the key out and put it on run I hear the fuel pump prime and the truck will fire again but die. I just revved it after starting then it died now I can't crank with the key anymore. What is going on?

 

Okay I feel stupid. It was the black wire harness connectors near the fuse box. Just wasn't plugged in all the way.

 

glad you found it.