Yesterday morning I started my 97 3500 4x4 automatic and it was making a noise (not loud) that I couldn't make out. Killed the truck and re-started, no more noise. Later in the day I started it and it made the same noise, tried to kill the engine, nothing would happen, kept running, could not shift into gears though, shifter would not move. After about a minute I was able to turn the engine off. Please help as I don't have an idea what this could be. Could it possibly be connected with the serpentine belt?

 

I was going to say the shut down solonoid was sticking. The gear shift thing?? No idea.

 

may have been starter hanging up. strange sound may have been starter not diengaging. does not the shift colume lock when key is offI don't know).
Clark

 

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The strange noise could have been your starter plunger sticking to the starter contacts. Both are easily replaced in an hour.

http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/default.htm

They have fuel solinoids also.

Nothing to do with the serp. belt that I can think of.

 

he said 97 3500 auto 4x4

 

Thanks for the help. If the starter is hanging up, does this make the engine continue to run when the key is turned off? To clarify about the gear thing, When it does this thing it does I can't take the truck out of park, it is like the truck is not started, if that makes sense.

 

Yes, depending on what you did when it kept running. Generally what happens is the old starter relay carbonizes and sticks enough to put enough power through to the fuel shutdown solenoid to keep the engine running. The key will be shut off, the gear selector is then locked, and the steering wheel locked, but it just keeps running...

It is also possible for the ignition switch to fail and create a situation where the engine will not shut down, but that is almost always preceeded by a hard to start situation where the ignition switch is failing to make complete contact and you grind away with nothing happening.

 

Definitely starter contacts, $35 and and an hour to fix it.
This explains what's going on http://www.fostertruck.com/dodge/starter%20faq.htm

Fix it ASAP or you will burn up the shutdown solenoid and possibly some wiring too, then the bill goes up to $200 plus.