Hi all, new here. I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 with a 4.7L in it. The car was driving fine and one day I came out and the car just wouldn't start. All electronics turned on but the car will not crank at all. I turn the key and literally nothing. No turning over. Just dead silent with all electronics on.

I changed out the starter, new battery and new starter relay. Still nothing. The only time it starts to crank is when we put a wire in the negative side of the starter relay and grounded it manually. Not sure what that signifies but I'm completely baffled at what could be wrong.

Any help will be much appreciated. The car sat over winter because we couldn't figure out what is going on with it.

 

Have you ever replaced your crankshaft position sensor? That's what the problem sounds like to me. They're cheap and easy to install.

 

I have not tried that. I will give it a go! Will it not turn over or crank at all if the sensor is bad?

 

If the engine isn't even rolling over, (starter not engaging, or doing anything at all.....) crank sensor isn't going to fix it. Does the starter relay click when you turn the key to start??

 

Yeah, I hear a single click but not cranking at all. When I ground the relay manually (stick a wire in the negative side of the starter relay, then plug in the relay and ground the wire) it starts cranking but doesnt turn over.

 

Cranks, but doesn't fire??

Security lite on, by any chance?

 

Yeah, but it only cranks if I have an external ground for the starter relay. I will have to go see if the security light is on. Of it is, what would that indicate?

 

Security system is upset about something. Not reading the key, or a selection of other possibilities.

 

Gotcha! I will test everything out asap and report back. Thank you!!