I bought a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 about a month ago and lately I've noticed that when I try to start it (especially in the morning) the starter will just click ONCE and stop trying to start it. It's almost the same as if the battery was dead but it's not, it always just clicks once not several times. Sometimes it will get halfway there to start it and then just suddenly stop. If I wiggle the key around or take they key out and put it back in a few times it eventually works and starts right up, but I've also noticed it has been getting worse lately. I don't know much about ignitions but I'm guessing it might be that security feature so you can't hot wire it. It does NOT have remote start or keyless entry. The key I have is just a regular black key I do not think it has a chip in it. If you know what I need to do to fix this please help me out!
Ignition/Starter/Key problems please help
- Thread starter Stefan
- Start date
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Steve1500ram
Member
I'm no expert but if the truck were mine I'd be thinking it's either the starter motor itself, starter motor solenoid or possibly a loose wire/connection behind the ignition barrel??
05singlecabHEMI
Senior Member
could be the ignition itself, the starter or i had an issue where the battery connections were not tight enough and it would do the same thing. But with that itwas obvious it was a battery issue cause everything went dead.
xb1230
Hobby Mechanic
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- Aug 22, 2014
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- Ram Year
- 2020
- Engine
- 5.7 HEMI
The starter is activated by relay in the IPM (fuse box in the engine compartment on the driver's side).
I'd have a look to see if the relay is properly seated in its socket. Also I believe there are a few other similar relays you can swap it with for testing purposes.
When I bought my truck, the previous owner said he had electrical issues with the truck and I actually have a Push Button start. So Yes they can be hardwired, but don't ask me for the recipe to get this going as the last time I looked under the steering column it scared me to death of seeing all those poorly spliced and diced wires... I redid most of the connections in more "appropriate" fashion, at least from an electrical standpoint, but my truck had the remote starter and key lock which I don't have. I also don't have a chip in my keys as I have had a few standard key cut and they work just fine.
If you read from the service manual, all of the '02 are equipped with the chipped keys though and there is an extensive section on the security system.
I'd have a look to see if the relay is properly seated in its socket. Also I believe there are a few other similar relays you can swap it with for testing purposes.
When I bought my truck, the previous owner said he had electrical issues with the truck and I actually have a Push Button start. So Yes they can be hardwired, but don't ask me for the recipe to get this going as the last time I looked under the steering column it scared me to death of seeing all those poorly spliced and diced wires... I redid most of the connections in more "appropriate" fashion, at least from an electrical standpoint, but my truck had the remote starter and key lock which I don't have. I also don't have a chip in my keys as I have had a few standard key cut and they work just fine.
If you read from the service manual, all of the '02 are equipped with the chipped keys though and there is an extensive section on the security system.
Stefan
Junior Member
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- Sep 28, 2014
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- Ram Year
- 2002
- Engine
- 5.9 L
So are you saying that my key does have a chip in it? I have a spare for it that doesn't have the dodge logo in it but it still does the same thing with the spare. I will look at the relay tomorrow and also the starter connections I guess. How hard is it to take the starter out and have it tested?
The only thing I don't understand is if it were a wiring problem why would it eventually work after trying like 5 times? The truck doesn't move at all so I don't see how any wires could shift so why would there be a short sometimes and then all the sudden not?
The only thing I don't understand is if it were a wiring problem why would it eventually work after trying like 5 times? The truck doesn't move at all so I don't see how any wires could shift so why would there be a short sometimes and then all the sudden not?
