2004 Ram 1500 won't start :(
 

Greetings everyone,

We've got a 2004 Ram 1500 (3.7 v6). The wife drove it home today and parked it (no problems noticed).

I went out to move it tonight and it wouldn't start. Radio, lights and other electrical stuff seemed to work fine, but I turn the key and nothing.

Dash lights work, but the gauges themselves don't seem to be doing anything when the key is turned over. I yanked the battery and had the local AutoZone check it out, it was good as new. Only thing I noticed that I have had no luck finding on the forums is the little box that is normally around the gear wasn't illuminated. I don't remember if that box is there before the engine is started, but I know it's not there now.

It was late and dark outside so I haven't looked too well at all the underside connections, but before I was a bunch of time checking things I wanted to see if anyone had a clue about this problem.


Thanks,

Need more info, does it try to turn over? Does the starter click?

Nope. Everything appears (more or less) normal, turn the key and *silence*. When I release the key I get a single ding ding (as if I left the keys in the ignition). Please note, this is an automatic, not a manual transmission.

There is no action from the engine or starter, if I didn't know better I'd assume the fuse to the starter or some other failsafe type mechanism had failed.

To put this into perspective it behaves the same as in my manual transmission car if I were to try and start it without pressing down on the clutch.

Well then you got some sorta issue like a seized starter or something, you could bang on it with a screwdriver or something. Doubt its a fuse. And fyi, all these trucks are auto

Not true bro, I had a 3.7L manual. Yeah check out the starter/selonoid.

sounds pretty starter-related to me. You might wanna reset the PCM to be safe, but the starter should be the first thing getting power and if that's not working right that's generally the first place to look.

starter. if it wont even click and you have power to all accesories i would assume the starter solenoid

Ahh my mistake, its the hemis that are all auto

Could be the neutral safety switch if it is a manual trans. It could also be a fuse in the PDC. Could be the starter but you can drop that the connect it to the battery to see if it will spin. Could also be a bad ignition switch.

I was also thinking the neutral safety switch if it wasn't the starter. Pulling the battery and having out long enough for someone to test it should have reset the pcm. Have you tried to start it in neutral? Check your positive and negative cable and make sure all connections are tight on both ends.

Also, get a hammer and beat the starter a few times. Give it a pretty good whack. Then see if you get anything. There's a few things that can cause a starter to not work. I'd start with a few hammer blows and see where that gets you.