How to fix an intermittent start problem with ram 1500

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Tamisha answered 2 years ago

Do you hear a click coming from under the hood when you turn the key. If so does it happen every time you turn the key over or occasionally. If that clicking occurs when you turn the key over and the car starts but when you don't hear the click the car doesn't start. . . And you said it starts sometime. It sounds like your starter. And keep in mind if your battery gets too low from trying to crank the vehicle the starter will not have enough juice to start.

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Giulio answered about a year ago

Seems to be an ongoing issue with the same defective ignition switch in these vehicles as the Ford, Honda, Acura, Lexus, Toyota, and Infinity that all use the same bad parts. Change the ignition switch and consider yourself lucky you didn't get cheated by crooked dealerships and dishonest manufacturers.

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jpink answered 6 months ago

Definitely not the starter.. Known to be problems with these Ram 1500 are faulty ignition switches that burn out but not completely so they work intermediately. if you have enough juice in your battery to run all your lights and accessories then the starter would make at least a half-assed attempt.. Ignition switch is something you can do yourself for less than 50 bucks. You tube has a couple helpful videos.. Just don't touch the Airbag screws!!

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2005RamSLT answered 5 months ago

I had this problem. Try hitting the starter with a hammer a few times. Not hard just like knocking on a door. My 05 wouldn't start and I pulled it for test at autozone and it would test good. Buddy of mine said try hitting it so I finally did and it worked.

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GuruZMR answered 4 months ago

I have a 2010 Ram 5.7. Turn the key, gauges radio everything but the starter comes on. The trick I found I'd if I hold the ignition switch to the starting position, 15, 30, a minute, sometimes longer, it'll finally crank over and start. Not sure what's causing this. Almost like a Deisel that you have to warm the glow plugs before you can start it's not sure what the problem is though.

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Guru9X8HL answered about a month ago

Just tried guruZMR's suggestion and it worked!! Now the real question is why??? WTF

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Brucehotglass answered about a week ago

My 2000 Dodge Ram did this yesterday afternoon. Started fine, took it down to the local store, then when I went to start it, nothing. Wouldn't even crank. Fortunately, the local mechanic is right by there, and he came over with his battery pack (no luck), then tried tapping the starter (nothing), so he and a helper pushed it over to the station, which is fortunately, slightly downhill. Now get this: they tried it again, and - you guessed it, it started right up. It was close to closing time, so I left it there, and he's going to see if he can find the problem today. I will see him this morning and mention the ignition switch. Hope that's all it is.

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Brucehotglass answered about a week ago

The mechanic said it appeared the shifter was sticking a bit, and thus wasn't getting all the way into "park". He freed it up, and tried running it a few times. Seems to have fixed it, for now anyway. At any rate, if it does happen again, I'll know to try moving the shifter, perhaps out of park, then back in, making sure there's a click, so I know it's in park. Didn't charge me anything.