# 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 - Starts hard

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-dodge-ram-1500-starts-hard/135108>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** dodge\
**Created:** [February 21, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-dodge-ram-1500-starts-hard/135108 "2019-02-21T21:49:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mindy46](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@mindy46](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mindy46)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-dodge-ram-1500-starts-hard/135108/1 "2019-02-21T21:49:48Z")

</div>

Truck turns over can here it clicking but takes 3 turns till it starts.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-dodge-ram-1500-starts-hard/135108/2 "2019-02-22T22:36:44Z")

</div>

The next time you go to start the engine, turn the ignition on so the dash light come on for two seconds, and then turn the ignition off.

Repeat this a half dozen times and then try starting the engine.

If the engine starts right up, it points to a problem with the anti drain-back valve on the fuel pump.

Tester

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-dodge-ram-1500-starts-hard/135108/3 "2019-02-22T22:45:31Z")

</div>

Your post is a little unclear. Are you saying that when you turn the key to the start position, you hear a click, and you have to cycle the key 3 times to get the starter to engage? That would indicate a bad battery connection, starter solenoid, or starter.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 4:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-dodge-ram-1500-starts-hard/135108/4 "2019-02-23T04:07:45Z")

</div>

If the problem is inconsistent or slow cranking (that rrr rrr rrr sound with the key in “start”), and you don’t want to pay for a lot of testing, there’s a pretty good chance replacing the battery and starter motor will fix it. Are you a gambler Mindy? 🙂