Hi,

Tried to start my 2000 Ram 2500 w/auto trans just now. The dash lites up, fuel pump buzzes, start light goes off... when I turn the key to start... nothing.

Dead... the starter soelenoid doesn't kick in at all.

I moved the shift lever around and tried again ... silence.

I hooked up my battery charger set at 2 amps to check the meter on the charger... the charger says the batteries are ok.

I need help.

Thanks,
Jack

I just checked the lights and they seem to be OK. I then checked the drivers side dash fuse panel... when I hit the switch, the small blue box/Relay? clicks... I assume this is normal?

Thanks,
Jack

 

With the ignition key on, try lifting up on the fuel solenoid plunger and then starting. When you lift the plunger, it should hold up.<br>If not, try replacing the relay on the firewall. Just pull a relay from somewnere else and plug it in.<br>george

 

The solenoid may be &quot;hung&quot;. If the batteries show a good charge and everything appears normal, I would turn off the key and take a pair of pliers or a hammer and peck on the solenoid to see if it will let go. Give it a couple of good raps and try to start. If it cranks you found your problem.

 

Could be the switch on the tranni. Put the brakes on, hold the ignition switch in 'start' and then pull the shift lever from park to drive or even to low. If it kicks the starter in then you obviously have found the problem. It this works then it is probably just the switch out of adjustment.

 

If all your connections are tight, it sounds like the starter contacts may be gone. It's a fairly common problem and pretty easy to fix. You can get some heavy duty contacts from LarryB. Do a search, there's been lots of threads on this.

 

The neighbor and I replaced an under hood fuse...That didn't fix it. I cleaned the battery terminals. We swapped the plug-in relays in the underhood fusebox... still dead<br><br>

 

Did you try the tranni switch test? It this does nothing then on to the next step. <br>Not sure on your model but if you can reach the back of the solenoid try shorting across the terminals. Be careful of touching the shorting tool to any ground. There will be lots of sparks but not to worry. If the starter tries to engage then it could be the solenoid contacts as others have mentioned.

 

<br>&quot;With the ignition key on, try lifting up on the fuel solenoid plunger and then starting. When you lift the plunger, it should hold up.<br>If not, try replacing the relay on the firewall. Just pull a relay from somewnere else and plug it in.<br>george &quot;<br><br>Smokey... I don't know what a fuel solenoid plunger is... there is a lever on the fuel filter that purges water though. We tried swapping the relays.<br><br><br>&quot;The solenoid may be &quot;hung&quot;. If the batteries show a good charge and everything appears normal, I would turn off the key and take a pair of pliers or a hammer and peck on the solenoid to see if it will let go. Give it a couple of good raps and try to start. If it cranks you found your problem.&quot; <br><br>4x4...are you talking about the solenoid that is attached to the starter motor or the relay in the under hood fusebox? <br><br><br>&quot;Could be the switch on the tranni. Put the brakes on, hold the ignition switch in 'start' and then pull the shift lever from park to drive or even to low. If it kicks the starter in then you obviously have found the problem. It this works then it is probably just the switch out of adjustment. &quot;<br><br>I tried your suggestion... still dead.<br><br><br>&quot;If all your connections are tight, it sounds like the starter contacts may be gone. It's a fairly common problem and pretty easy to fix. You can get some heavy duty contacts from LarryB. Do a search, there's been lots of threads on this.&quot; <br><br>berner... are you talking about the solenoid that is attached to the starter motor or the relay in the under hood fusebox? <br><br>Thanks for the help,<br>Jack

 

&quot;Did you try the tranni switch test? It this does nothing then on to the next step.
Not sure on your model but if you can reach the back of the solenoid try shorting across the terminals. Be careful of touching the shorting tool to any ground. There will be lots of sparks but not to worry. If the starter tries to engage then it could be the solenoid contacts as others have mentioned. &quot;

Mexstan... I'll see if I can get under there... i remember doing ths to old circa '53 chevy trucks

There is a Large hot wire w/rubber boot on the bottom of the solenoid?
also a smallwire connected next to it that runs in the plastic protector/conduit/loom

On the top of the solenoid? There is a large black wire w/boot connected there.

I guess I would pull back the boot on the bottom red wire and short it to the casing?

I also assume I would need to switch the truck on?

This is beginning to sound as if I could run myself over!

MAN that 2&quot; gravel is like a bed of nails!

BTW, it is a 2000 Ram 2500 4x4, 62,000 mi.

 

Also, there was no prior warning. Everything was fine yesterday, I just pulled in and parked as usual.<br><br>The batteries didn't seem to be weak or any thing amiss.<br><br>Thanks,<br>Jack

 

NO! NO! NO! DO NOT short that wire to the casing!!!!!!!<br>The hot wire from the battery (the one with the boot on) should be shorted to the wire coming out of the starter motor. Before doing this put the park brake on and if you are underneath, chock the wheels well. Leave the ignition switch OFF for this test, unless you actually want to start the engine.

 

Fuel plunger thing is a 12 valve fix.<br>Won't work on a 2000.<br><br>First thing I'd try is shifting into &quot;N&quot; and trying to start.<br><br>Most of the time if it is the tranny switch, it just doesn't see &quot;P&quot;, but will see &quot;N&quot; just fine.<br>(only allows you to start in P or N, but sounds like you know that).<br>Neighbor had a Ford Aerostar Van (pos ) that started doing that.<br>Wouldn't start in park or neutral actually, I offered assistance and found if I held it in &quot;P&quot; forceabley it would start.<br>Also worked temporarily if I moved the shift lever up and down repeatedly, as if cleaning the contacts.<br><br>Just another possible fix/try thrown into the mix.<br><br><br>phox

 

Hi,<br><br>I guess I'm throwing in the towell. I didn't try to short the starter, thought it left me too much leeway to screw something up.<br><br>I called a repair guy earlier, said he wold come out and fix it tomorrow if I couldn't.<br><br>I'm definately gonna get a second mode of transportation SOON. I used to have an old beater chevy truck that I sold before I moved. I wish now I'd kept that old truck.<br><br>Thanks to all for your help,<br>Jack<br><br>

 

Let us know later what the repair guy did to fix the problem so that we can all learn from this.

 

Hi,<br><br>Your help is appreciated. <br><br>Yesterday I overlooked the small fuses in the underhood fuse panel while concentrating on the big one that was blown, which didn't address the problem.<br><br>I checked the 20A fuse labeled START SOL, it was blown. I replaced it and tried to start the truck and it blew out when I turned the key.<br><br>I got under the truck and tapped on the solenoid. I didn't rally think it did any good as far as I could tell. I robbed a non-essentual fuse and it started right up.<br><br>Thanks again to the forum for the help...<br><br>Jack