Alright guys, I know this sounds like a silly noob post, but for the life of me I cannot figure out what is going on.

So my truck is driving fine, I come home, park it, and go to drive it about a week later. It won't start, so I assume it's the battery. I put the charger on it overnight, and it still won't start the next day. Then I start to realize the weirdness...

First, all of the lights, the radio, the AC, everything works fine. The engine won't attempt to turn over, not even a click. The lights don't dim or anything. Then, I notice that the gauges don't move when I turn the key to the run position. Fuel and battery just stay at the bottom peg.

I have no idea what to do. I tried starting in Neutral, I disconnected and reconnected the battery, and I've checked fuses. Everything seems normal. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would really appreciate it.

 

moved this over to the Tech section for ya.

Unhook both pos and neg leads going to the battery. Then, touch them together and hold them there for 10seconds. You may have an initial spark(no worres) This will deplete any remaining power that the ecu has stored within the internal capacitors. See if that helps any.
if not, either I cannot think right now or I haven't a clue??? But it could be a number of issue's. it's where to start that is frightening.

 

There is a problem with the either the starter the cable to the starter or the ignition switch.

I had the same issue on my truck and found that the + cable at the starter and the stud on the starter was covered in a thin film of corrosion. Cleaned it up and have not had a problem since.

 

Back with the same bad news...

I'm ashamed that I let my poor baby sit for so long, but I've just now had the time to work on it. Same problem as before.

New information:

- The alternator and starter are both fine. I took both of them off, tested them, and they both are good. All cables and connecters are cleaned.

- Not a single fuse or relay is blown. I took every single one out and tested it...no luck.

- I have one of those battery jump-starter things, and when I run the "alternator check", it tells me that the alternator is below normal operating value. However, I tested and found that there is power going to the alternator.

In case I failed to mention, this is a 2005 Ram 2500, 5.7 Hemi, 4X4. It has to be electrical, I just don't know where the kink is. Any suggestions from you much wiser gear heads out there?? Easily worth a couple of cases of beer to the problem solver. Thanks!

 

Do you alarm your vehicle during those long periods?

 

You should test the starter wire for voltage drop. Probe both ends and read the value. It shouldn't be more than a few millivolts. If there is a few volts or more, then you have a short in the wire from the battery to the starter.
Also, do a cluster guage sweep test. It should be the same for '04 as my '08. Press and hold the trip button and turn the key to run(not start), release the trip button. You guages should start one-by-one to sweep all the way from left to right and back to left. If any fail to move or get stuck, your Cluster is bad and must be replaced.

 

It could be a relay, or a loose connector on the pdc (fuse box).

Do you have an immobilizer? Could be a bad key or a bad ground. This shuts off the pci buss to the cluster CPU.

 

I know if you pull fuse 23 on the 04 and try to key on the ignition you will get nothing. Are you sure all the fuses are fine?

 

Hey guys - this is the exact reason that I joined the site. I am having the same issue with my 04 / 1500 as well.

I even changed the ignition starter switch on the steering column and still no luck. Anyone have this happen and actually find the fix? Thanks in advance.

 

Starter relay? In my bigger DCX vehicles aka Freightliners (yeah they a Chrysler product lol) the battery cables seem to rot away from inside out just a thought even though they look ok and transfer voltage don't mean it can handle the amperage. No dimming leads me to believe a relay is not clickong over hence no current draw to dim the lights.