Friends 2000 Dodge had no signs of any problems, new batteries 6 months ago. Came out to start truck and nothing. Guage shows 12volts, lights don't dim when he turns the key.

Where should we look 1st?

Thanks,
Dave

 

I you have nothing at all, try tapping the solenoid. It may be on it way out. Or just acting up.

I had one on a different vehicle do that once, I crawled under and tapped it a few times with a hammer, started, never gave me any more trouble. I guess I putthe fear into it

 

Check the fuse under the hood that's for the starter solinoid. If it's blown, that means it's your starter contacts. A quick temporary fix is a circut breaker in place of the fuse.

 

Take a look at the saftey switch onthe clutch rod where it goes thru the firewall.
You will get absolutely no response if this switch doesn't make. Like trying to start without pushing in the clutch.

I'm having problems with mine too. I found that if I slide the thing up and down on the shaft it works for a while. Also make sure the mat doesn't hold the clutch pedal up far enough that the switch doesn't close. I find that I really have to tromp on the clutch to start sometimes. I just took my mat out a week ago and that more or less cured the problem.

 

Do you have a test lite ?
Put on small wire [ coming from ing. sw. ] at starter , if it lights then problum at starter or connections .
If no power then look at ing. sw. , nutral safty sw. , clutch sw. .
If your still at starter , the lite tap with hammer can damage , the permanent magnets in the body of the starter can crack then you need a starter .
Use the test lite after you got the power from ing. sw. to small wire at starter , have someone turn key to start pos. and use test light to see it there is power to solinoid [ large cable coming from batt.+ ] then chick for + short large cable from solinoid to stater , both should lite up , if short cable at solinoid lite then its starter , if not its solinoid , both there are upgrades to make better , but if there is a problum with crack magnet / or windings , you still need stater ,
Heres a link , it may make more sence then me , but they have parts also.
http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/default.htm
LarryB's Dodge starting problems solved here.

 

A new starter/solindoid and a solinoid fuse solved it.

 

my shift linkage was loose and it would cause the truck not to start. I replaced the bushings and no more of that. It thought it was in reverse.

 

Same thing for me last weekend. Check my post.
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=102610
or " no start agin" from last Friday

The solenoid apparently jambed the contact and the motor ran until it burned up. I never heard a thing or saw anything. When I slid under the truck I brushed off one of the vents on the starter and poof fire shot out of it. It was shorting out inside. Ultimately it drained the batteries. Also new like yours. Luckily the fusable link didn't melt and no wires melted. There was about 2 cups of shavings that came out when I opened up the starter.

I got a lifetime starter from AZ $206 plus tax. and put my new big contacts in it. Seems ok but doesn't have the instant turn over that the OEM one did. We'll see.