Dodge Ram: Turn Key, Nothing Happens. Common Reasons and Fixes

Your Ram (formerly Dodge Ram) pickup may not respond when you turn the key in the ignition to start the vehicle. What could be the cause of the truck's unresponsiveness and what can you do to fix this ignition hassle?

The most common reasons for turning the key in your "Dodge Ram" and getting no response are a weak/dead battery, battery connection issue, bad alternator, defective starter, defective key fob or transponder, failing ignition switch, etc. Typical fixes would be to swap out any faulty component or charge the battery.

This guide will elaborate more on the potential factors for the starting issue as well as the repairs that can be made. Thankfully, the causes and fixes are not special to Ram trucks. They're also applicable to other truck makes and models, so this was an easy guide to produce.

Causes of Turning Your Ram's Key and Nothing Happening

Having a pickup like the Ram for taking you to places and maybe conveying much stuff on the way is a good thing. But what if you can't get the engine to run no matter how much you try? That's an annoying experience that can leave you stranded at an inconvenient spot with a frustrating feeling of hopelessness.

Not to worry, this section could help you in performing some DIY diagnosis on the vehicle. So what are the possible factors that don't allow the pickup to start? See the common causes of this ignition key situation below as well as their fixes.

Flat Battery

A drained battery is the most common factor that triggers this situation. The clicking sound you may be hearing could be a sign of the battery charge not being adequate to activate the starter.

You can resolve the issue by recharging your battery with the aid of a charger, booster, or jumper cable connection. Hopefully, all three devices will be in your vehicle.

1) Utilizing the Jumper Cables

This is the most affordable solution among the three devices. However, you'd need another vehicle's battery to give your Ram a boost. Doesn't feel so cheap anymore, does it? This is a cheap fix, but it depends on the availability of a sometimes difficult-to-find power source.

So rule it out if you're stranded and alone in your present location. And maybe there's no chance of a vehicle passing for a long time or no sign of one in sight.

You could be lucky enough to get stranded within the city or a place where there are signs of people though. It could even be your home and you're lucky enough to have another truck that could play the role of the power source. No need to go through the hassle of asking for help from neighbors or friends.

Procedure for the Jumper Cables:

Step 1: Let the other vehicle be near yours so that a convenient connection can take place.

Step 2: Keep the other vehicle running

Step 3: Connect the red wire to the positive terminals.

Step 4: Connect the black wire to the negative terminals.

Step 5: Wait for a minute or two then start your truck.

Step 6: Disconnect the "negative" red wire

Step 7: Disconnect the "positive" black wire

Step 8: Let your Ram run for about 15-30 minutes to let the alternator charge the battery well.

2) Utilizing a Battery Booster

A booster pack can be helpful when dealing with battery-related problems. It's even more useful to those who own more than one car or truck. These devices function following the same principle as jumper cables, but they offer extra convenience.

Simply put the device on top of the battery when it drains to provide a power boost for the vehicle. Your Ram will gain enough juice to start. Let the truck run for some time for the battery to be adequately recharged.

3) Utilizing a Battery Charger

This is a suitable fix for those who aren't in a hurry. And it's considered to be better than using the jumper cables or booster packs. Your Ram's battery can get completely charged at once this way, so you won't have to wait for the engine to run after using the charger.

The demerit of this solution is that you may have to uninstall the battery and recharge it indoors. This is if your backyard or garage isn't safe for the recharge. The recharge procedure could take as long as 12 hours, which may not be convenient for you in certain situations.

Battery Connection Issue

A loose battery cable can make a fully charged battery useless to your Ram. The connection wouldn't be enough for a total or even a partial transfer of power. So keep in mind that the terminal connector clamps loosening up on their own is a possibility.

Proceed to open the truck's hood to inspect the wire connections. Then use a wrench to secure any loose ones by tightening any screws.

However, the problem could be bad connectors or corroded terminals causing a circuit break. So look out for such battery connection fault types as well. Get rid of the corrosive materials by cleaning all the cables, connectors, and terminals.

The battery should be unplugged during the cleaning and examination process. You should first remove the "negative" followed by the "positive".

Any worn or damaged part should be changed using a replacement part, wrench set, and clippers or wire cutters featuring an integrated stripper. Ensure that you have enough wire length to complete the circuit or you can buy new ones.

Faulty Starter

Your Ram pickup will refuse to start even if the battery charge is full-as long as its starter is bad. An automotive vehicle's starter ensures that electrical current is received and transformed into a rotary motion that will make the engine run. The engine will keep running normally as long as its air-fuel mixture is being ignited.

There's an odd trick that you could implement in temporarily fixing the starter the DIY way. This could be helpful when you're stranded.

The procedure involves using a hammer to hit the back of the starter lightly. What you're trying to do is push the starter brushes back in place so that the unit can return to its normal operation.

You can expect the above fix to last for some months or even years. Still, it's advisable to swap out the starter motor to avoid getting stranded someday.

Conclusion

Since battery drain is the most common reason for the "Dodge" Ram's engine not coming on or starting when turning the key, it's only right that you know how to prevent it. Unexpected battery drain can be caused by leaving the vehicle's electronics or lights on for too long. It's highly likely for this to occur overnight.

Suspect a power leak in your vehicle's system If you're sure that no electronic or light was on. It could also be the alternator failing and not recharging the battery. It's best to contact a professional technician to investigate the power leak or alternator failure.