Started my truck up this morning and the starter stayed engaged. Once it finally shut off, the two wires that go to the air intake heater where badly damaged. I replaced the starter and those two ends and cured the starting problem, but now i have no first gear, no overdrive no tach and no cruise control,,, any ideas??

1997 dodge ram 2500
ex cab 4x4 a/t

 

Check the Power Distribution Center, and pay particular attention to the fusible links. Tug on each one until you find those that stretch, and then replace them.

Go to Foster Truck and pick up a set of their heavy duty starter contacts, or you will repeat the disaster you had this morning. In fact, you could have rehabbed your old starter for around $15, and would have solved the hanging starter problem without the cost of a new one.

 

Thanks, I will start there first thing in the morning. The worst part of it all, i had just replaced the starter with a rebuilt one in November,, thought i was ahead of something like this happening .....

 

no blown fuses or links, pcm problem?

 

It sounds like your engine speed sensor is telling the pcm the engine isn't running. Since this happened after the wires burnt up first thing I'd check is any others that might have been damaged during the meltdown.
Check the fusible links that are attached to the driver's side battery positive pole.

Next time instead of replacing the starter just replace the $20 starter contacts.

 

Im not having any luck finding any more damaged wires.

 

It's almost always related to the engine speed sensor when several electronic failures occur at once. The sensor is located at the dampener (lower pulley, front of the engine) check the wiring and connector to it. It comes up the front of the motor, connector is under the upper radiator hose.

Beyond that it is quite involved to go though the diagnostic procedure here, it would take pages, suggest you buy a service manual from here http://www.techauthority.daimlerchrysler.com/ or take it somewhere where it can be scanned.
If you are reasonably mechanically inclined and own a voltmeter the manual will be cheaper than the dealer.

 

Thanks Infidel and RCW!!! I never found any burned up wires or anything that didnt look right, so I decided to replace the engine speed sensor, well the parts store didnt have the right one and since i had already removed mine i just cleaned it up along with the connector and everything works just like it used to!! I appreciate the help!!! i learned alot this weekend..
thanks again!