blackbelt135
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- Sep 29, 2023
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HELP! I have a 2020 Ram Rebel 1500, 5.7L crew cab (non eTorque). It only has 39k miles on it. I've had the truck for a few months, it's been great, until now ... it won't start!
I don't think it's weather related ... it's been in the 30's lately, but now it's dropping into the 20's.
I'm the third owner (original owner was in Canada, then second owner was the dealership in Boston, Mass), and I bought the truck a few months ago so I don't think it's under warranty anymore.
Side note: A week ago I installed a sound system, just a single subwoofer and amplifier. We used a Line Out Converter to bypass the factory amp and subwoofer. The install went smoothly and the sub sounds great. It shouldn't be the issue.
Two days ago I tried to remote start the truck (which I always do), but it didn't start. So I went outside to manually start it. I pushed the brake, then pushed the start button, just a click. I tried again, nothing. All electrical and lights working as usual, and no unusual alerts or anything on the dash. My first thought was my sound system must be drawing power somehow, so I disconnected it. I disconnected all the wires going into the amp, and I even disconnected the power cable to the positive terminal on the battery. The sound system is completely disconnected (other than the LOC to the factory amp). Basically back to factory settings, but the truck still wouldn't start.
The dashboard's battery voltage display said 11.9 volts, so I hooked up some jumper cables. I let it charge to 12.5 volts, tried to start it, nothing - just a click. And when I tried to start it, the voltage dropped from 12.5 down to about 12 volts. So I left it on the jumper cables longer. I charged it to 13.7 volts, tried to start it, nothing - just a click. The battery voltage dropped from 13.7 to 13.2 volts. I tried to start it again, nothing. The voltage dropped to under 13 volts. I tried again, nothing, and the voltage kept dropping. Maybe a damaged cell? Maybe not enough amps? I removed the battery, went to AutoZone to have it tested ... they said the battery was good! However, I still bought a brand new $230 gold battery, put it in the truck, tried to start it, nothing - just a click. Took the new battery out, put the "old" battery back in (I guess I'll return the new battery that didn't help). Terminals are clean, clamps are tight. Truck won't start.
Next I got under the truck, I removed the heat shield over the starter, and then tried tapping the starter with a hammer 10-20 times. Tried to start, nothing - just a click. I then tried to see if the starter had any loose wires/connections, but everything looks ok from what I could see. I hit the starter with a hammer another 10-20 times, this time a little harder (it's a tight spot, you can't hit it too hard) ... tried to start, nothing - just a click.
I also checked the fuse box under the hood. I removed a few fuses that said "starter", but from what I could tell, they all looked ok. Nothing unusual.
After 5 hours of troubleshooting, I went to bed. I woke up this morning, tried to start, no luck. What should I do next? Install a new starter? Solenoid? I saw someone mention the BCM?
I don't think it's weather related ... it's been in the 30's lately, but now it's dropping into the 20's.
I'm the third owner (original owner was in Canada, then second owner was the dealership in Boston, Mass), and I bought the truck a few months ago so I don't think it's under warranty anymore.
Side note: A week ago I installed a sound system, just a single subwoofer and amplifier. We used a Line Out Converter to bypass the factory amp and subwoofer. The install went smoothly and the sub sounds great. It shouldn't be the issue.
Two days ago I tried to remote start the truck (which I always do), but it didn't start. So I went outside to manually start it. I pushed the brake, then pushed the start button, just a click. I tried again, nothing. All electrical and lights working as usual, and no unusual alerts or anything on the dash. My first thought was my sound system must be drawing power somehow, so I disconnected it. I disconnected all the wires going into the amp, and I even disconnected the power cable to the positive terminal on the battery. The sound system is completely disconnected (other than the LOC to the factory amp). Basically back to factory settings, but the truck still wouldn't start.
The dashboard's battery voltage display said 11.9 volts, so I hooked up some jumper cables. I let it charge to 12.5 volts, tried to start it, nothing - just a click. And when I tried to start it, the voltage dropped from 12.5 down to about 12 volts. So I left it on the jumper cables longer. I charged it to 13.7 volts, tried to start it, nothing - just a click. The battery voltage dropped from 13.7 to 13.2 volts. I tried to start it again, nothing. The voltage dropped to under 13 volts. I tried again, nothing, and the voltage kept dropping. Maybe a damaged cell? Maybe not enough amps? I removed the battery, went to AutoZone to have it tested ... they said the battery was good! However, I still bought a brand new $230 gold battery, put it in the truck, tried to start it, nothing - just a click. Took the new battery out, put the "old" battery back in (I guess I'll return the new battery that didn't help). Terminals are clean, clamps are tight. Truck won't start.
Next I got under the truck, I removed the heat shield over the starter, and then tried tapping the starter with a hammer 10-20 times. Tried to start, nothing - just a click. I then tried to see if the starter had any loose wires/connections, but everything looks ok from what I could see. I hit the starter with a hammer another 10-20 times, this time a little harder (it's a tight spot, you can't hit it too hard) ... tried to start, nothing - just a click.
I also checked the fuse box under the hood. I removed a few fuses that said "starter", but from what I could tell, they all looked ok. Nothing unusual.
After 5 hours of troubleshooting, I went to bed. I woke up this morning, tried to start, no luck. What should I do next? Install a new starter? Solenoid? I saw someone mention the BCM?
