I bought a used 2004 quad cab with 38K miles, and absolutely love it, runs and sounds sweet! Recently though, when I turn the key, it takes a couple of tries before the engine turns over. Sometimes I catch myself pressing the gas down as well to start the engine. I used to drive a chevy, and just one turn of the key and the engine would crank, even after 75K miles. Is this common with the Dodge Ram? Is there something I can do to make it crank on the first try? Thanks!

 

I have an '04 with close to 60k but mine fires right up.

 

My 05' has just started to do this too!!!!!! It scares the crap out of me sometimes when it does when Im out in the middle of no where for work!!!! I can sit there and attempt to crank it over and thats all it will do. Its trying to start you can tell that. Most of the time I'll try to crank it over and the first try it wont do anything but the second try it'll usually start right up. I have found out though that if I have my A/C on when I'm trying to turn it over is usually when I have the most problems with it which is odd cause even with my old chevy it would turn over with the A/C set to max.

 

I hear ya. I am just wondering if I should take it in or not. I mean, I just got it about a month ago from a certified Dodge dealer in the Dallas area, so I would think that it would start up no problem. It is not a huge deal, when it starts after 2 or 3 tries, it runs like a charm......it would just make me feel better if it cranked on the first try, thats all!

 

My 05 does it about once every six months

 

Mine will do it a few times a week - every other week. It doesnt do it all the time and it will eventually fire up but still on a truck with less than 18k on it it should fire up on the first try not the second or third. Im affraid to take it in for an electrical problem though if thats what it is cause it takes alot of time for them to be taken care of and fixed correctly. I'm not looking forward to it if I end up having to take it in..........

 

Confused..?
When I hear people say "wont crank" I think you mean the engine wont turn over.
But some of these posts talk about the engine turning over, but not firing....

If you engine won't "crank" - meaning not turn over - like a dead battery.
I would bet its the ignition switch. Not the key cylinder, the actual ignition switch.
We have had to replace a lot of them, for various reasons.

 

Sorry let me clariffy it a little better.

With my truck I can sit there turn it over and crank it for about 15-30sec and it will not start up. It will turn over but will not fire up. It is not like your having a dead battery but more like your out of gas and it wont start. The cranking power is still there its turning over like it wants to start but doesn't. Thats the problem Im having with mine and it doesnt do it everytime. Sometimes it does it a few times a day and others I can go about 2-3 weeks without it doing anything befor it starts acting up again.

Sorry for the comfusion I know lots of people use the terms crank and turn over differently.

 

My 05 use to do this once in a while maybe once a week. I took it in and they said they would need to keep it overnight . They called me the next day and said that they did not have any problems starting the truck up .

 

well for starters,

engine compression
fuel pressure
fuel filter