2002 Dodge Dakota Ignition is intermittent

Tiny
EALLDREDGE
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 DODGE DAKOTA
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 53,000 MILES
Recently I have begun to experience intermittent problems in starting my Dakota pickup. When it starts successfully, there appears to be no difficulty. Battery charge is good, all indicator lights behave normally, starter turns the engine quickly and the engine begins to run without any delay. When it doesn't start, I don't hear the starter even attempting to turn the engine as happens with a low battery. All the indicator gauges appear to be fine and other electrical loads function normally (lights, radio, etc.) In the past, I simply retry and after a couple of turns of the ignition switch, it starts up as if there wasn't a problem. This past weekend, however, it didn't recover. No matter how I try to adjust the position of the ignition switch or force the clutch all the way in to depress the clutch switch, it still won't start. Could this be more simple than it appears?
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Monday, April 14th, 2008 AT 3:01 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
WOODEMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I just went through a similar situation with my 94 Dakota. All the symptoms were the same. Since my battery was 6 years old, that's where I went first. It didn't solve the problem but I needed a new one anyway. I pulled the starter and tore the solenoid down. The contacts were totally worn out. I rebuilt it and put it back together. The truck is starting perfectly now (so far). Maybe worth a look in your case.
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Friday, April 25th, 2008 AT 9:58 PM

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