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2011 3500 Intermittent No-crank (what switch is it?)

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Hello all, new member here reaching out for hopefully some help! I'm mostly a database guy, not a mechanic, but I'm not afraid to learn (I work on my truck rarely and my motorcycle)

2011 RAM 3500 4x4 Automatic Laramie Diesel Megacab non-dually, 135000 miles, also been deleted (came off the used lot like that)

Problem: Truck intermittently won't start. Single click, no turn. Moving the column shifter to Neutral or sometimes back to park, etc. etc. will eventually 'catch' and allow a crank.

What it's not - Batteries, starter all good.

1) I had batteries tested at Autozone and come back good.
2) I removed the starter and manually checked it, works just fine.
3) Removed some big ole square electrical connector from the driver side of the transmission and sprayed it with electrical cleaner, looks fine but unsure what it is.

I know there's a position switch or neutral safety switch or *something* I need to swap, but I can't for the life of my find the doggone name of the part I'm supposed to swap or where it might be. Some people say it might be integrated into the PRNDL column up top or one of the 3000 sensors/switches on the transmission.

Can anyone throw me a bone? Thanks much!
 
Although this was written for gas vehicles, it still applies to your truck. Substitute ECM for PCM, and ignore the pin outs listed for the NGC controller. Sorry I don't have time now to check the wiring diagram. Bottom line, All Grounds must be clean and tight, and the T41 circuit must not have any resistance between trans and ECM.

Click no crank


Click No-Start is an unofficial name of a condition that is possible on some Chrysler brand vehicles. The name “Click, No-Start” comes from the click sound that is sometimes present and reported when the vehicle does not start. Due to variations between vehicles however, the click sound is not always present, even when the no start condition is present.

The condition described here occurs when a ground offset between the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) ground and the engine/transmission ground exceeds a certain threshold. The ground offset is typically caused by loose or corroded attachment of the negative ground cables or minor degradation of the negative ground cables. The condition does not necessarily occur because of added resistance at one specific place but may be a result of stack up of resistance at multiple places on the vehicle.

On Chrysler brand vehicles where the PCM also incorporates the Transmission Control Module (TCM) the PCM monitors the transmission gear position. This is accomplished by a Transmission Range Sensor (TRS) located inside the transmission. The TRS is attached to the transmission valve body. The TRS connects to the PCM with four sense circuits. The PCM supplies voltage to the four sense circuits and monitors the voltage. Based on the gear position selected, the TRS grounds the individual sense circuits. Depending on which circuit is high (12 volts) and which circuit is low (0 volts) the PCM determines the actual transmission gear position selected. For starting the vehicle, the transmission must be in either the Park or Neutral position.

As a requirement of starting the PCM performs an addition verification to determine Park or Neutral gear position using the T41 range sensor circuit. To verify Park or Neutral and allow starting, the PCM must see a low state (low voltage) on the T41 circuit. The threshold for this low state is considered to be 1.9 volts however the actual threshold could be as low as 1.4 volts. This means if the voltage on the T41 circuit exceeds 1.4-1.9 volts the PCM will sense the vehicle is not in Park or Neutral and therefore not allow starting.

When added resistance is present in the battery cables, some of the available battery voltage drops proportionately at each point where resistance is present. This voltage drop condition will increase as the current load on the battery cables increases. When the driver attempts to start the vehicle the current load on the battery cables will be at its greatest. If resistance is present on the negative cables, the engine/transmission ground will have a voltage above that of battery negative. If this voltage offset exceeds the above mentioned threshold starting will not be permitted.

In most cases on vehicles that exhibit this condition the ground voltage offset will be below the threshold when the vehicle is at rest. This permits the PCM to see the Park/Neutral position. When the ignition is turned to the start position the starter begins engagement. The moment the starter begins to engage the current load on the battery cables also increases causing the ground voltage offset to exceed the threshold. This causes the PCM to sense the transmission is no longer in Park/Neutral and disallow the starting. This partial but interrupted engagement of the starter or starter solenoid is one of the sources for the click sound.

Proper diagnosis should include measuring the voltage on the T41 circuit. In most vehicles with an NGC PCM the T41 circuit is in cavity 27 of the PCM C4 connector (may be C3 pin 27 on RFE). Using the NGC breakout box place the positive lead of a DVOM to the T41 circuit. Connect the negative lead to the battery negative post. Monitor the voltage under the following conditions. Repeat the testing as necessary to get consistent results.

• Ignition On, engine not running, electrical loads turned on

• Ignition On, engine running, electrical loads turned on.

• Starting the vehicle.

It may be beneficial to use the min/max feature of the meter. If the meter reading exceeds 0.5 volts excessive voltage drops are present even if the vehicle starts. Service the vehicle grounds as necessary to reduce the measured value as low as possible. Less than 0.1 volts is preferred. Adding redundant grounds may be beneficial both for testing and for repair.

If the sensed voltage on the T41 circuit remains high and no excessive resistance can be detected anywhere on the battery ground cables this could indicate added resistance in the TRS contacts or circuits. If necessary, these should be closely inspected.
 
Not to beat a dead horse but how were the batteries tested. Did they simply put a meter on your truck with the batteries installed or were they disconnected? If they're not separated a good battery will mask a weak one.
 
Not to beat a dead horse but how were the batteries tested. Did they simply put a meter on your truck with the batteries installed or were they disconnected? If they're not separated a good battery will mask a weak one.

No worries, always good to look for things that may have been missed :)

I removed each of the batteries and they tested them individually. I also volt-metered them and used a charger on them (after they had been tested) to make sure they were at max voltage.

Once I find the 'magic spot' on the PRNDL (which seems to be random), they crank the truck perfectly. I just wish finding this switch / ground / whatever issue was a bit easier.

Once while moving the shifter, the truck cranked as I passed through R going from N to P (which surprised me, as I wasn't actually turning the key since the shifter is also right-handed). Luckily I had my brake depressed and parking brake on.

Truck started doing this out of the blue and intermittently, which made me think batteries as well, but I've also tested single-crank (just one battery installed in case one is bad) and still acting like this.
 
I think that makes the wiring in or below the steering column a possible suspect...

Yeah I suspect that or something else on the transmission. The shifter goes through all gears just fine and when operating the truck, I get no weird shifts or out of gear conditions, etc. It's only getting the doggone thing to turn over! Thanks for the reply -- I think I'm going to have to rip this sucker apart and look at wiring just to make sure a critter didn't have a lunch out of my harness somewhere.
 
You might try cycling the tilt column the next time this happens. That would narrow it down as to the wiring and basic location if in fact it changes anything.
 
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