06 dodge ram.. ignition switch or starter?

[sh40674]

i have an 06 ram, about 120k miles. went to walmart after work yesterday morning, when i left work the truck wouldn't start until about the 4th or 5th attempt. no buzzing of the starter, turn the key over and nothing. have full power, lights, dash lights, radio, etc... so got it started (it's done this once before a couple months back) ran to walmart quick to grab a jug of supertech, and came out and same problem. this time i was in the parking lot for a half hour. crawled under, tapped on the starter over and over... nothing. tried numberous times. about 25 minutes or so of sitting there i decided to try to turn the key over one last time and it fired up like nothing was wrong. now given the taps on the starter had no effect, and it didn't seem like it was "sending power" to the starter to attempt to start, would you guys look at the ignition switch first?

 

[JC1]

I would check all of the wiring that runs to the battery and starter first as well as the ground wires.

I know the Caravans have issues with breaks in the wiring and corrosion. You might have something similar.

What's the condition of the battery?

 

[sh40674]

batter was new last winter and has plenty of power

 

[Trav]

Check for current at the starter small terminal while someone hits the key. I'm not familiar with this starter or if it uses an external solonoid but in any case that's what to look for. It should be an easy one to diagnose.

 

[AandPDan]

Try putting it in neutral instead of park. The neutral safety switch might be a bit out of adjustment.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Coworker of mine had a Dodge truck of that era. It did that a few different times. It seemed to always be neutral safety switch.

 

[sh40674]

wouldn't start in neutral or park. after sitting for a while i didn't change gears and fired right up in park, after sitting in park. wont have time to test with a meter till the weekend

 

[dnastrau]

We just had this with our 2008 Jeep Commander 4.7 at about 116K miles. It turned out to be a bad starter.

Andrew S.

 

[sh40674]

i may just replace both...been thinking about replacing the starter (usually replace them whether they need it or not by 150k if it's original just to keep from being stranded somewhere)... i see the starter is only 73 after coupon from AA, and the switch is 22 bucks shipped on rock auto... gotta get a wife a set of tires, hopefully it'll run for another couple weeks until then