The first time I experienced this problem I went to start the truck and got nothing but a click. Still had dash and interior lights, radio and dash cut out when turning the key etc. I asked my neighbor to give me a jump, we tried that with no luck. He then said the click sounded like starter and so he went and got a hammer and pounded on the starter until I could get it to start.
That was about 2 months ago. Ever since I have had intermittant starting problems which are getting worse. Always just one click when turning the key. When I jiggle the gear column over and over and try cranking in many different positions, I can finally get it to start. Sometimes I'll go days with no problems, other days I have to play with it for seveal minutes to get it started every time I turn it off. Recently I hav had to get it jumped twice to start it.
I know this sounds like neutral safety switch, and I have read a lot about it in these forums. Additionally I've read I should change the starter contacts. Any help would be much appreciated.
I guess I need to know where the neutral safety switch is on my truck, whether I need to worry about the starter relay, how to replace the starter contacts. I also have a lot of corrosion on my battery contacts and cables. I use the baking soda trick to clean them and it seems like more just shows up. I forgot to indicate in my signature that the truck is an automatic.
I am a vehicle repair novice. I like to say I build houses, not fix cars. I'm smart and can follow direction, from what I've read i think I can fix this, I just need a little hand holding.
I'm stoked about running across these forums. I've wanted to learn more about my truck and be able to perform work on it ever since I bought it 2 1/2 years ago. I'm looking forward to learning more.

 

I would clean the posts and cables before I did anything else. I mean really clean them a bad ground will send you off on many wild goose chases. When I bought my truck its the first thing I did. Banking soda works well. I changed the bolts on the battery terminals also as mine could not be tightened properly. Also if the corrosion keeps coming back you could have a bad cell in 1 of your batteries. Does it fail to start in neutral as well as park?

 

Welcome!Sure souds like starter solenoid contacts to me. A very common problem! Pretty cheap repair as well. You can buy contacts at places like NAPA or there are companies that sell larger more improved contacs as well. Do a search ( when Jack gets it back up! ) and you'll find a blue million posts about it! This is in no way a complete step by step, but it wil get you there! They are pretty easy and self explanitory once you get the starter off. Take the cover off of the back of the solenoid and the plunger will come out. Then you will see the rest of the two contacts in question ( and probably see a noticable ledge cut in them too!) Then just take the nuts off the outside of the solenoid housing and remove them. Reverse procedure for installation! LOL

 

Ditto on this. I thought my batteries were dying and the posts looked clean. Dielectric grease should be used on these connections.
You might also want to check starter relays, the brushes and contacts in the starter motor if its not the battery posts.

 

An intermittent starting problem can also be as a result of the starter solenoid contacts wearing out. The ignition switch sends a 12v signal to the solenoid when you want the starter to work. The heavy + battery cable goes to the solenoid. The solenoid serves as a remote controlled switch to energize the starter windings. A solenoid is an electro magnetic device, a plunger with a large copper washer on top is pulled down and the washer makes contact with the power from the battery and sends it to the starter winding.It bridges the gap between 2 contacts. With use, the copper washer gets spark eroded and it doesn't make for a good conductor any more.... hence the periodic start problem. You can purchase an update solenoid to repair the problem, or replace the starter motor itself. Anyway this may not be your problem, but it is a common no start issue. Good luck.
Alan
I must type slow! I am repeating a couple of posts.

 

Here is a link to some for sale on ebay. I have no idea of this seller or his ratings/ customer satisfaction, just that his ad shows a picture of the parts I was talking about.

AlanF - Usually the 2nd gens that need the realy and wiring upgrade will not crank at all. I think what he was/is describing is a click? I could be wrong though, just how I took it.


edit to add link!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/REPAI...spagenameZWDVW

 

Hey guys, thanks so much for the responses.
I read until my eyes fell out on here last night. I checked the PDC today and several of the relays had the same part number as the starter relay, so i switched a few round, but still got one click then a turn over the second time.
Are relays like fuses? If they're dead the truck wouldn't start at all, right?
When this problem first started it seemed it was because I wasn't shifting all the way into park. Then after a bit when it wouldn't start in park, I tried all the gears and in between and it seemed if i held the shifter forward or pressed it backward in either park or neutral it would start. The problem is always one click, sometimes a half crank, and occasionally a pump or a motor will keep running after the half crank. Now however, i just have to jiggle (some times a bit roughly due to frustration) the shifter back and forth, back and forth, then it will eventually start in park only.

I will thoroughly clean the battery terminals tomorrow. what should I look for as far as a bad cable or a bad cell in my batteries? Have them tested?
I'm going to figure out how to get the starter off and buy new contacts. Do any regular retailers carry the super-sized contacts? Should i replace everything while it's off?

Here's another big problem, I have tens of thousands of dollars in tools and none of them are for working on cars. Are there any basic automotive tools I can be pointed towards to begin my next tool collection?
I really appreciate the extra hand for a newbie. you'll all be proud papas when I get this fixed. Then you're stuck with me trying to figure out the rest of the truck.

My brother's the car guy in the family, and we both own Dodge Rams amongst other vehicles, but I was smart enough to buy the better 2500 CTD. He helps me out when things go wrong on the truck, but his diesel knowledge is limited, which is why he's been trying to talk me into getting a gasser, but I think I have the right truck. And I'm going to use you guys to help me prove it by fixin' her up.
Thanks again

 

The "click" that you are hearing is the solenoid engaging. Because of the worn contacts it is not transferring voltage from the solenoid to the starter. Hence, no cranking of the engine. Invest in some contacts and you'll be on the road in no time!

 

Be careful with baking soda, just a tiny bit in a battery cell will ruin the cell.

When it happens you can test the started by taking a small screwdriver and shorting from the battery terminal to the small terminal on the starter. That will bypass all the truck stuff except the starter relay it self.

I ditto the battery terminals cleaning first. ( ALWAYS disconnect the ground cables first, and connect then last. )

Mike

 

You already know that you get what you pay for with regard to tools. I am not a pro mechanic, so this is just my opinion. I would keep my eyes out for a good %50 sale at Sears (Craftsman). Here in Canada they seem to go on sale quite regularly. For a couple hundred you get a good selection of Metric and Imperial sockets and wrenches; 1/4,3/8, and 1/2 inch drive. A selection of Torx sockets are also needed.You already have screwdrivers pliers and vice grips I would think. That would get you started.
Alan

 

I would purchase a set of starter contacts off eBay and get them replaced as soon as possible. I had mine for a while and never changed them,then one day the truck just would not start at all. Better to do it when you can and not when you have to....
It is not a hard job... Took me a couple of hours on my back in the driveway.....
Hardest part for me was breaking the battery contact bolt loose on the starter after it was out....
No special tools required... 10mm wrench to remove the three starter bolts, 1/4" wrench to remove the starter solenoid wire, and 3/4" (I think) to remove the battery cable.
Then a phillips screw driver to get to the contacts......