Looking for assistance with an issue regarding my starter. Truck was starting to turn over very slow, and really wouldn't start unless i stepped on the pedal to provide fuel. Eventually it just didn't turn over so i checked the batteries...ok, and deemed it the starter. Purchased a refurbished one from Autozone, changed the old with the new; everything worked just fine. Same day, coming back from work stopped quite quick at a stop light and.....dead. Put it in park and tried to start it...nothing and same thing with neutral. Odd thing was that now the power windows weren't working. Had it towed home and checked the connections at the starter and they were somewhat loose so i tightened them. Tried to start it again but nothing. Wondering if it may be a fuse or relay?? Any assistance would be much appreciated. It's a 97 2500 12V with 200k not that it probably matters. Thank you for your time.

 

Check fuses, connections at the battery, and most importantly, check the ground wire(s).

 

If a fuse is bad, it's not going to work at all.

Remember that there ate two ends to every battery cable. Start at the battery, make sure all connections are as good as they can possibly be, then look at the other ends. Make them just as good. Don't the 97's have a starter relay, that can develop bad spots in the contacts? Another place to look. Also don't' forget that batterys can look good with just a voltmeter put on them, but that's not testing what they can deliver. You might need them load tested.

 

Don't assume because the starter is new that it's good.
Auto parts Chinese junk starters, even the "life time" warranty ones rarely last more than 10k miles in our Rams.

 

i'm still on the one that was on the truck when it was built, 254,000 miles, i installed larry b contact kit three years ago