1988 dodge p/u no start

1988 DODGE TRUCK

HUE

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I'm not sure what motor it has in it, but I do know it's a v8. On one side of the truck it says D100 and on the other side it says D150. I have had slow starts (engine cranks, but took long time to fire) for quite some time now, and it had gotten to the point that sometimes it would act like the battery was dead. It would just make a bit of a click when I turned the key. then a few minutes later, it would start like there was no problem. Now it wont start at all. It just acts like the battery is dead even when I hook it to another vehicle. I replaced the starter yesterday, but it still does not even try to start, just a faint click.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

Oct 18, 2007 at 12:47 PM

2CARPRO JACK

CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
11,533 POSTS

Need to test it to see if you are getting 12 volts to the starter. Could be a bad ground or positive battery cable

Oct 18, 2007 at 2:53 PM

HUE

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks, I will check both of those.

I had a friend turn the key while I was under the hood and it sounds like a relay or something on the driver fender makes a buzzing sound when the key is turned

Oct 18, 2007 at 2:58 PM

2CARPRO JACK

CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
11,533 POSTS

could be low system voltage

Oct 18, 2007 at 3:06 PM

HUE

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks for all you help. I got it going. I had recently changed out the battery because I figured it may be my problem. It did not change anything. However, the one thing I never did (even while changing the battery) was clean the battery connectors..........There was a thin coating that had built up where they make contact with the battery posts. Your low system voltage comment made me go test things with my volt meter. Once I determined that I had different voltage on the connector than I did on the post itself, I took them off and cleaned them. I did have to jump start it, but this time it started and I have had no more problems like this.

NEXT TIME I WILL START WITH THE SIMPLE THINGS!

Thank you.

Oct 22, 2007 at 11:32 AM

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