Need Help possible starter issue

Teller116 · Jun 8, 2024

please help!!

Today my wife called me saying our 2019 Ram 1500 classic big horn would not start. she said when turning the key she heard 1 click then nothing. i arrive to see if i can figure out if its the battery or the starter. i confirmed when turning the key i got one click then nothing. lead me to believe its a starter issue from my limited experience if it one click and nothing its the starter, if multiple clicks and lights on dash flashing or all power going off its the battery. when turning the key no lights flashed and headlights stayed on after the solo click. I climbed under the truck and tapped on the starter with a hammer. After doing that it started just fine. we drove it home without issue. I removed the starter and took it to autozone, advance, and napa. all tested the starter without load and all said the starter test good. I put the starter back on and it started up just fine. the connections had dirt/dust on them before removal. Is it possible that the connections were just dirty and that caused the issue or could it be something else.

NETim · Jun 9, 2024

Could be dirty connections. How old is the battery?

Rlaf75 · Jun 9, 2024

It could be a dirty connection but if the starter just clicks and you got it to start by tapping it then replace the starter. If the starter is spinning while being tested it will show good but the starter has a dead spot that coincidentally didn't happen while being tested. After you put the starter back in it may be fine for awhile but it will randomly happen again.

chopperman1 · Jun 9, 2024

I would load test your battery. A low battery can cause the starter to "hang".

RamDiver · Jun 9, 2024

I kept a small hammer and a piece of cardboard to lie on, in my '87 Toyota pickup. The starter required a few taps, periodically.

This was in the old days, the 1990s. I eventually purchased new brushes for the starter and never had to smack it again.

.

Dean2 · Jun 9, 2024

Rlaf75 said:
It could be a dirty connection but if the starter just clicks and you got it to start by tapping it then replace the starter. If the starter is spinning while being tested it will show good but the starter has a dead spot that coincidentally didn't happen while being tested. After you put the starter back in it may be fine for awhile but it will randomly happen again.

Spot on. The correct answer, unless you want to have your wife occasionally tap the starter when it hangs.

NETim · Jun 9, 2024

Dean2 said:
Spot on. The correct answer, unless you want to have your wife occasionally tap the starter when it hangs.

It's been my experience that wives usually display a certain reluctance to crawl underneath a vehicle and are not at all shy about voicing their objection.

Dean2 · Jun 9, 2024

NETim said:
It's been my experience that wives usually display a certain reluctance to crawl underneath a vehicle and are not at all shy about voicing their objection.

I hear you, was sort of my point too.

Jeepwalker · Jun 9, 2024

-Check your connections.
-Wiggle or swap the start relay & fuses. & fuses up by battery cables
-Do a load test on the battery, like others said.
-It could well be the WIN module contacts. Go to Youtube and search out WIN module. Esp if you ever notice a delay once you turn the key and it actually starts turning over.

Dean2 · Jun 9, 2024

Jeepwalker said:
-Check your connections.
-Wiggle or swap the start relay & fuses. & fuses up by battery cables
-Do a load test on the battery, like others said.
-It could well be the WIN module contacts. Go to Youtube and search out WIN module. Esp if you ever notice a delay once you turn the key and it actually starts turning over.

All good steps to take when tracking down an issue and on any day it could be any of those things, BUT tapping with a hammer and it starting is pretty much guaranteed there is a dead spot on the starter or the solenoid is going south, both of which means it needs a new starter.

Wild one · Jun 9, 2024

Usually if a hammer tap gets it going,it's a brush that's hung up in a holder,and not so much a dead spot on the armature. You used to be able to buy rebuild kits for starters that included new brushes,but i don't know if you can buy a rebuild kit for the truck starters as i've never looked for one,but there still are outfits rebuilding them,so a good possibility you can,if you hit google.

Jeepwalker · Jun 9, 2024

I agree ...but worked when tested. It could be a fluke (and it's really the WIN module). It's one of those that can be tricky to diagnose.

Juice17 · Jun 10, 2024

I'm going on a year with same problem. 2 different starters, a battery and it is still happening. I can go months between issues then all sudden won't start. By the time it gets to a repair facility starts right up

DRam2019 · Jun 10, 2024

My 2019 2500 6.4 did the same thing, but I found the power terminal nut loose, not falling off loose, maybe 1/2-3/4 turn loose. Tightened up and no issues since.
Seeing as you removed the starter maybe yours was loose as well?

DRam2019 · Jun 10, 2024

I should add the no start 1 click was intermittent for a couple of weeks prior to me tightening

RamDiver · Jun 10, 2024

Juice17 said:
I'm going on a year with same problem. 2 different starters, a battery and it is still happening. I can go months between issues then all sudden won't start. By the time it gets to a repair facility starts right up

We will require much more information if you would like to pursue a solution here.

A complete history of the problem including mileage, repairs attempted, original owner, and any other faults or observations.

It would be best to create your own thread so that we don't create unrelated clutter in this OP's information.

.

RamDiver · Jun 10, 2024

Teller116 said:
please help!!

Today my wife called me saying our 2019 Ram 1500 classic big horn would not start. she said when turning the key she heard 1 click then nothing. i arrive to see if i can figure out if its the battery or the starter. i confirmed when turning the key i got one click then nothing. lead me to believe its a starter issue from my limited experience if it one click and nothing its the starter, if multiple clicks and lights on dash flashing or all power going off its the battery. when turning the key no lights flashed and headlights stayed on after the solo click. I climbed under the truck and tapped on the starter with a hammer. After doing that it started just fine. we drove it home without issue. I removed the starter and took it to autozone, advance, and napa. all tested the starter without load and all said the starter test good. I put the starter back on and it started up just fine. the connections had dirt/dust on them before removal. Is it possible that the connections were just dirty and that caused the issue or could it be something else.

If you're looking to save a few bucks, have the time, and want to learn more about how the starter works, check out this video;

Starter Rebuild, Remove, Replace and Repair 96 Dodge 1500, 2500, 3500

Amazon Affiliate Link to Remote Starter Switch: https://amzn.to/2IAT9cyAmazon Affiliate Link to Emery Cloth: https://amzn.to/2MzJMPJAmazon Affiliate Link to...

www.youtube.com

.

Need Help possible starter issue

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