No Start Symptom

[adboyd06]

Truck: 2020 RAM 1500, Big Horn, Hemi, 52k miles.
Symptom: no start with the push button, sometimes.
Battery is new and fully charged.

Sometimes I jump in my truck, foot on the brake pedal and push the button to start the engine and most times it starts like normal. Other times it just clicks and does not start. Then I push the button a few times to cycle off, run, start, open the door - or some combination of all of that and it starts no problem.

The other odd thing is sometimes I jump in my truck, foot on the brake, and the brake pedal is rock hard. Even with that symptom the truck usually starts just fine, but sometime it just clicks.

It’s never left my stranded, yet, but it is getting super annoying.

Looking for advice or troubleshooting guidance. Has anyone experienced a similar issue?

 

[Scram1500]

The brake pedal is normal, the stored vacuum from the booster gets used up pressing the brake when the engine isn't running. Do you have aftermarket LED's or get the message "fob not detected"?

 

[Greaser]

I don't have the start issues you mention but have noticed the brake pedal thing. My electrical gremlin appears to be related to the tail/swing gate registering as open when it's fully closed, that has always resolved itself when I've gotten out and open then reshut the offending part.
Can't help with the start issues and the only advice I can offer is that it my Tundra and Frontier never suffered these type of issues, but they were built a lot more agriculturally and a lot less orientated towards satisfying the techno needs of the type of owner who has their own named parking space in the corporate work carpark...
Make of that what you will.

 

[adboyd06]

The brake pedal is normal, the stored vacuum from the booster gets used up pressing the brake when the engine isn't running. Do you have aftermarket LED's or get the message "fob not detected"?

I do not have aftermarket LEDs and I have never received the fob not detected error message.

 

[Scram1500]

I do not have aftermarket LEDs and I have never received the fob not detected error message.

My guess is starter or the push button is going bad. In the old days you could hit the starter with a broom handle to wake it up but the sucker is hidden now

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

I've seen guys mention hitting with a hammer to see if helps. If does, might be starter going bad.

 

[kapinallinen2]

I've seen guys mention hitting with a hammer to see if helps. If does, might be starter going bad.

I did that ones with my explorer, hit it too hard and cracked one of the permanent magnets.
Ended up not being the starter but a corrosion buildup in the battery clamp, where the cable is inserted.

 

[Vulpes]

Not sure if you've checked already, but see if the battery terminals are loose. They should be tight on the battery posts. Loose terminals can cause the starter to not get enough electrons. If you're not sure what this is, you could take it to a parts store like O'Reillys and ask them to look at it. Also Youtube has many helpful videos. The clicking noise tells me that there could be a loos electrical connection to the starter, or the starter could be starting to die and might need to be replaced.