Hey everyone! I have a 2000 Dodge Ram Van 1500 5.2L V8.

This problem happened for the third time this week. Hoping to get some tips on what it might be and how to diagnose it the next time it happens.

I go to crank the van, and I hear the starter start cranking and all of a sudden all power cuts out. Radio, lights, turn signals, hazards, etc are all out. If I go and disconnect the battery and reconnect the battery, everything works fine again.

Any ideas?

 

Bad battery cable is where I would start or a poor battery connection. My 50-50 guess is a ground cable problem.

 

agree^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Yeah, the battery cable definitely looks pretty corroded! I'm going to replace it and see if it still happens. Thanks.

 

Next time it happens instead of disconnecting the battery, try disconnecting all 3 PCM connectors, then reconnect them. If that then causes the engine to start, the issue is with the PCM not the battery connections.

 

Clean the battery posts and the terminals with one of these.


Then spray some terminal protector on them.