OK, not real hardcore tech but the tow rig is down.

I have a 96 RAM 2500 with a diesel. Friday drove fine. Saturday fine. Parked Sunday and Monday. This am it was slow to crank but it started. Drove 10 miles and turned it off. Went to start and it went click, click, rrrwwww, click. I assumed a battery was bad. This afternoon, got a new battery, and started to install it. Cleaned the cables and put it back on. Slow to crank but started. I drove home assuming it was just corrosion. Got home and click, click. Cleaned the terminals real good, applied lithium grease and no change. Put in the new battery. no change. Switched side, no change, pulled battery out of the jeep and put it in. no change. mostly just click, click or not even a click.

Put an multi-meter on it, both batteries were fully charged, 12.85v and 12.86v on the batteries. Watched the batterys on the meter while cranking, nothing less than about 10v while cranking...or at least clicking. All four batteires in any combination did the same thing. I'm a bit slow but at this point, I don't think it' sthe battery.

I checked all the cables and those seem to be tight.

Checked the started cable and it was tight. Did not try to turn it over with the meter on the starter but at this point I think it's the starter. Since it's more than just click, click, I don't think it's the silly-noin. But it might be.

Anyone else got another suggestion? Anything?

Tomorrow I'm going to pull the starter and take it to NAPA.

What do you call the goofy bolts that hold the starter on?? Star bolts?

Mods, please move if need be. I guess I'm in the wrong place for the question.

the starter is pulling too much damn current if your voltage is dropping down to 10 wiht the dual batteries...... starter is bound up internally. dont listen to the parts monkeys if they test it and say its OK..... its junk i promise

I assume youve already performed a cat scan, or that you already know there arent any cats caught up in there. Your starter is broken!

"Starter goes rrrrwwwww, rrrrwwwwww, click, click"

That's weird, My computer does the same thing!

The contacts inside the starter are known to go bad. So much so that you can buy heavy duty replacement contacts instead of buying a new or rebuilt unit. It would be my guess that your problem is internal to the starter.
Travis..

Thanks for all the help. Sorry I posted in the wrong forum.

FWIW, it was the starter. Last time I replaced it, used a NAPA with a lifetime warrenty. I pulled it, they replaced it without even a test and gave me a new one. Put it back on and truck goes..........

Rrrruuuummmbbble, Rrrrrruuummmmmbbbbllee,

I did a little happy dance.

Lovin' the sound effects:laughing:
Travis..