Need help, truck won't start!

[ohiodave]

Have a 98 Ram, 5.9l, Auto that won't start. Battery and starter check out good but when I connect the starter and ground it, the breaker pops.

Switched out the relays with no change.

Any ideas?

[Slade901]

What about if you try to manually crank the starter by using a remote switch (from automotive store). The switch has two alligator clips on both ends of the wire and in the middle there is a push button. You just connect one ends to the + side of the battery and then the other to the starter. You are basically bypassing the starter solenoid and directly powering the starter. If you engine turns over then the problem lies somewhere between the starter solenoid, ignition switch, relays.

[rockwood84]

you can use a pair of jumper cables put black on - post and clip black on starter . hook red to + post and touch the red cable to the hot stud of the starter keep you fingers out of the starter when you do this as it will mash the **** out of them. if it kicks and spins then the starter is good .a dodge used to take a real hot battery to turn the starter over no wimpy battery will turn it over.