Ok I get up this morning with frost on the ground and my truck wouldnt even crank over, so I have my buddy come over to take me to work and just out of curiosity I had him hook it up to his jumper cables it wasnt 3 minutes and the truck started like nothing was wrong. I just went out on lunch break to see if it would start and it started fine can someone help me diagnose the problem. Thank you.

 

Probably starter contacts.

 

Could be the starter solenoid. you may have a dead-spot on the contact washer.

 

Here you go:

http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/


Only hard part is getting the top bolt of the starter loose. Other than that, it's a cake walk.

 

Yeah right, all three bolts are equally hard!

I just spent all morning trying to get them loose, then I sat back and had a beer and they all came right off.

oh yeah, lots of WD40 and an impact wrench with a universal joint (not recommended)

 

Sounds like batteries were dead or weak. Jump start + crank = weak or dead batteries.

While you drove truck to work, alternator did what it is designed to do - charge the batteries. If you did not leave something on, I would change both batteries. Cold + dead battery = bad battery.

 

easy way i have found to get the starter bolts out is a 10mm ratchet wrench. worth the money if you just buy it separate!! MAKE sure it is 12 pt. though!!!

 

Sounds like batteries to me too,as they get worse they'll hold a charge shorter & shorter.

 

Heh, Yeah, those things mess with you, eh? Stings a little bit

 

10mm combo wrench and a medium ball peen hammer is what I use. Beats trying to get a long setup like a ratchet and extension, or impact extension in that tight place.

 

All of my universals are in pieces from trying to use them with an impact.
Luckily none of the pieces are in my head.

 

I used a 10mm 12pt combo wrench, took a piece of wood and cut a little notch in it then used it to push against the wrench with a floor jack on the other side of the piece of wood. Broke it loose really easily, but I sure wish it was a ratcheting one because removing it still took a long time .

 

Once mine were cracked loose, all came out by finger.

 

If you had impact universal joints that wouldn't happen.


my snap-on 1/2" impact universal has seen abuse and some from the 3/4" gun. the starter bolts on an AC Delco MT42 that have been on a highway tractor for some years are usually no cake walk to get out. have to use the universal sometimes. Its never given even a wimper.

 

i 2nd that. i just did mine a couple weeks ago. remove the blow-by tube then all you need is an extension as long as the starter on a ratchet to get a good straight approach on that little top booger bolt. its all gravity after that, its a heavy one. just a note, i got those contacts and the plunger for 15 dollars so shop around. and another note, the contacts didnt fix my problem good luck