I've searched thru forum posts and can't find anything so Ill try a new post hoping someone out there can give me some guidance. My 05 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi has over the past couple of months developed a disturbing issue of an intermittent starting problem. Its a low mileage truck (71k) and I've owned since new. Seems like about once twice a week I'll turn the key, all the lights come on normally and I hear a faint click and nothing, no start. The click doesn't sound like you typical dead battery type click. After I cycle the key on and off a bunch of times (and sweat bullets) is starts normally. The battery is new and I already replaced the starter relay thinking that would solve it but no luck, still happens. Most aggravating thing is it is only does this every once in a while, I drove it all last week and it didn't happen but it did this morning when I was leaving the store. Had to turn the key on and off about 10 times before it just started normally. I tried starting in Neutral but no difference. All can think of is:
key cylinder
ignition switch
short in wiring harness
electronic brain or whatever its called $$$
I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue before and what they think it could be before I surrender and am at the mercy of the dealership who will likely find the most expensive issue. (Of course because it is intermittent watch and it won't do it one time when I take it in!) Any ideas would be appreciated. This truck isn't used too much but driven regularly and I would sure like to keep it. Thanks.

 

The soft click you hear is the starter relay. So, everything up to that point is working as it should. Your problem has to be elsewhere. First culprit I would suspect is the starter itself. Given the intermittent nature of the problem though, that's gonna be fun to troubleshoot. I might be tempted to install a lite that gets its power feed from the terminal on the starter the relay feeds, and ground it inside the truck somewhere....... That way, you will instantly be able to tell if the voltage is getting TO the starter. If it lites up, but, still won't crank, replace the starter.

 

Thanks for the reply. Your idea makes sense so guess Ill crawl under and check the starter connections and all. Changing a starter isn't too much of a big deal; tracking down a wiring harness fault is (and yeah, all this is real "fun", ughhh!) This has been a great truck and still looks brand new so I'd really like to hang onto it for a long time to come. Actually just the other day some older guy walked up and asked me what year my truck was and was surprised when I told him it was an 05.

 

Something else to look at is the hot lead to the starter. I had similar symptoms about 8yrs ago. Turns out the hot lead to the starter was VERY dirty. I disconnected the battery, took the lead off and wire brushed it and the lug on the starter. Never did it again.

 

Ok here it is, huge kudos to HeyYou, I was thinking for the past couple of months it had to be the ignition switch or a short in the wiring harness. Based on his post I climbed my fat *** under my truck and took a good look at my starter. Sure as hell the nut attaching the starter battery power cable to starter terminal had backed waay off and the cable was flopping around on the terminal. A quick tightening of the nut and bingo, problem solved. As Edd China would have said on Wheeler Dealer: "Result!"

 

My 05 I also got new, Has about a hundred and sixty three thousand miles on it, I had starting issues before and tried different things for a while loosening adjusting the hot side of the battery cable and it would start, It would be fine for a while, then.Do it again and I would loosen the cable and move it to the other side and it would be fine, Not sure when but at 1 point it didn't work.Someone suggested using a piece of Rebar in the wheel wheel through there till I touched the starter and then tap it with a hammer.So I did and it started right up, Earlier.This year I was having starting problems again.ignition issue Allowed me to turn the key past off To accessory , I guess and pull my keys out, I figured I damaged the battery all those times jumping it if I left my door open carrying groceries in for 5 minutes.So I knew the battery could take a charge and it would be fine if they're driving for a while but sitting in the driveway and then opening the door for 4 to 5 minutes there would be an issue, I had a new neighbor help me today get the old starter out.Take me to the Stewart to get a new starter.Put the new starter in reattacon , a new battery that I got in may, Can you hear electric running through somewhere?But it doesn't seem like enough power to turn the starter. I noticed there's a double cable to the hot side.One going to the starter, the other going to that fuse box.I believe inside but I wouldn't know what thing went to what thing. I forgot to see when the initial post on this was and hopefully someone can tell me what happened.It must be fixed by now what the issue was..