Turn the key to start, solenoid clicks once then all is dead.

Asked by Eric Oct 30, 2019 at 04:50 PM about the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 Laramie SLT Club Cab RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I drove my truck home the other night. (1998 Dodge RAM 1500 5.2L Laramie 2WD) just before I got home the blower fan quit. Went to go out the next morning, turned the key, all the lights and check bells sounded, turned to start and click (i think it was the starter solenoid) and then nothing. All electrical  power gone. waited a few hours, power back, turned key, click then all dead. I changed the 3 larger relays, new PCM still same problem.

3 Answers

Brand new battery, less than 2 weeks old. even after sitting for a few days now, still maintains 12.63 Volts. When I turned the key a few minutes ago. All lights on and bells sound, turn to start and click, then no electrical power. Discounted the battery for 3 minutes, hooked back up, battery still checked at 12.58 volts, turned key, click, the dead.

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If you replaced the battery and it is holding a charge, then I would also suspect the main cables next. Any obvious corrosion on either end of both cables? The"click" is telling you that the starter is not seeing enough energy to crank the engine even though the battery is holding a sufficient charge.

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