Electrical issue

[PrairieFox]

I have a 2020 Ram 2500 limited with a 6.4L hemi. When I go to start it all I get is a single click. This happened 3 months ago and I was told my battery had a bad cell so, I replaced it and that seemed to fix the problem. Now it is doing the same thing, I was able to keep trying and it did start so I was able to get home. Now when I attempt to start it I don't even get a click, all other electronics are working. I did notice that there is an apparent short in my trailer wiring. When I plug in my trailer the lights don't work as they are supposed to, I thought it was the trailer until I connected it to other vehicles and the trailer lights all work.

 

[rzr6-4]

Did you fix the short and still having issues?

 

[Tominator223]

Check the grounds at battery. Factory crimps aren’t that great. A bad crimp at the ends of ground wires is a good place too start

 

[62Blazer]

Have you simply tried to hook up jumper cables or a battery booster pack and see if it starts? The description sounds like a low battery. It's pretty common for a low or bad battery to have enough power to turn on the dash lights and such but not enough to run the starter. The starter takes WAY more power versus the dash lights, radio, etc... I have seen many vehicles that had a bad battery that wouldn't initially start, but if you kept trying it would give just enough to start it up once. Sure, it could be something else but would verify the battery is charged up and good first.
If the battery is dead, you need to find out why it's dead.
- There is a chance you have a parasitic draw, and the comments about the trailer wiring may be causing this?
- Just because the battery is new, doesn't mean it's good
- Double-check all of the battery cables and connections. I've seen it several times where somebody installed a new battery but didn't get a cable tight or seated correctly, and it worked it's way loose. Also check for any corrosion (typically green or white crusties) on the connectors.
- Check the alternator output with the engine running.

 

[PrairieFox]

Thank you for the suggestions. I have not had a chance to work on it yet so I will report back after this weekend.

 

[jaflowers]

Mines a 2015. Had issues and have found that the negative terminal connector on my truck seems oversized for two different batteries that I've had. Bottom line, couldn't get a tight fit on my ground cable to the battery. Added a bit of lead over my batteries terminal and was able to tighten it up just fine. All little electrical issues vanished at that point. Might be something to look at for you.

 

[PrairieFox]

Could not find a problem with the trailer wiring did find a blown fuse however. Battery tests good all connections are tight, could not find any issues with the ground. Wires to starter are all tight. Did notice that even when in accessorie mode a lot of the fuses have no power. I don't know if that is normal because that item isn't currently being used or if they should all have power.

 

[PrairieFox]

My problem turned out to be a loose wire on the starter. It was snug but not tight.