What is up with this thing: Yes, I checked the battery cables before I came to this forum! What ELSE can it be? Power Fails when I try to crank the Engine. The whole system goes dead; then, If I take the key out and come back after a few minutes, the power is back on. Same thing happens again when I try to crank it: the power goes out. I hear something like a solenoid clicking, coming from under the engine cowling maybe, right before the power fails.

Does anyone have a legitimate explanation for this? Is there a breaker box that I'm missing? I have electric coming from the battery, so that's not it.

 

Whats the story? Did you just buy this truck and this happened the next day? Is this problem out of the blue? Anything been done with the wiring anywhere for instance a stereo system or anything like that?

 

Not to mention, what are you attempting to drive?

 

Define "Power Fails". Do things like your starter, headlights, interior lights go dead, or just the dash lights and ignition system?

 

I'm sorry, I thought the foorum would provide the information I inputted for my Dodge-Ram-Van! It is a '96 Ram3500 15 passenger van, which is what I put in my vehicle description (which I can't even find now.)
1. I've had it for a few years and this seems to be a perenial failure in that it happens every so often. I've had it to the shop where they replaced some fusible links and I believe a relay switch, which seems to be what is wrong with it now. The only modifications have been to remove or bypass things that don't work. I'm not looking for general information. What I need is information about the solenoids and relays so I can trouble shoot the actual problem. No speculation is needed. Does anyone have experience with this problem? Thanks,

 

You sound like all you need is yourself and a service manual, not us.

 

What I need is for someone with the same experience to come forward. I have a Hayne's manual, but it covers so much ground with so many vehicles, that it's not really detailed with any of them.

 

For about $21 you could have a (used) factory service manual with all of the troubleshooting points. It's specific to the 96 and is leaps and bounds better than a Chilton book.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1996-...item53dde5f177