Troubleshooting Your 2012 Ram 1500 That Cranks But Won’t Start

This could be due to many different things, so troubleshooting would be required to narrow down the cause of the issue.

2012 Ram 1500 Cranks But Wont Start

‘2012 Ram 1500 Cranks But Wont Start’ is a common issue in many older model cars. If the engine of your Ram 1500 cranks but wont start, it could be due to a variety of issues. Generally speaking, it could be caused by a faulty fuel pump, an ignition switch issue, or problems with the battery or starter. In some instances, you might need to replace all these components.

It is important to determine and diagnose the problem before attempting to fix it. If your mechanic or technician determines that one of these components needs replacing, they will do so. You can take several steps in order to troubleshoot the issue yourself first and properly diagnose the problem.

The first step is to check your battery connections and make sure that they are securely fastened together and there are no cracks or frayed wires. Next, you should examine all of the fuse boxes under your dashboard and hood area replacing any that may be old or loose. Finally, look into your truck’s computer codes this requires using an ODB-II setup for any trouble codes that can potentially indicate an issue with cranking but not staring your vehicle.

Once these troubleshooting steps have been taken and you still find that your Ram 1500 continues to crank but not start, then you should take it into a certified technician for repair and service as more complicated issues may require professional diagnostics such as testing fuel pressure or conducting a computer scan on the engine control unit (ECU).

Crank Sensor Issues

A crank sensor is a small electronic device located on the engine block of your 2012 Ram 1500. It is responsible for monitoring the position of your engine’s crankshaft, which helps to regulate the timing and firing of the spark plugs. If the crank sensor fails, it can cause your engine to misfire or not start at all. Diagnosis of a crank sensor issue usually requires a code reader to locate the exact problem code, as well as visual inspection of the sensor itself. Common replacements for this include replacing the entire unit or just replacing the wiring harness that runs from it to the ECU.

Alternator Issues

The alternator in your 2012 Ram 1500 is responsible for generating electricity to power all of your vehicles electrical components, such as headlights and interior lights. If it fails, you may experience a dead battery or other electrical issues. Diagnosis of an alternator issue typically includes inspecting external wiring and connections and performing a voltage drop test across its terminals while running at higher RPMs. Common replacements include replacing either the entire unit or just its internal components, such as brushes and rectifiers.

Ignition Coil Issues

The ignition coil in your 2012 Ram 1500 is responsible for converting low voltage from the battery into high voltage to fire off your spark plugs. If it fails, you may experience misfires or an inability to start your engine altogether. Diagnosis of an ignition coil issue typically requires testing continuity between each coil with an ohmmeter and visually inspecting each one for any signs of corrosion or damage. Common replacements include replacing either individual coils or all coils at once depending on how many are faulty.

Starter Issues

Your starter in your 2012 Ram 1500 is responsible for turning over or cranking up your engine when you turn on your key switch. If it fails, you may experience slow cranking speeds, grinding noises when trying to start up, or no response at all when attempting to start up your vehicle. Diagnosis of a starter issue usually requires testing both current draw and ground connections with a multimeter before any replacements are made. Common replacements include completely replacing the starter motor assembly or just its internal components like brushes and solenoids depending on what exactly has failed within it

Fuel Injector Issues

The fuel injectors in your 2012 Ram 1500 are responsible for injecting fuel into each cylinder as needed by regulating their flow rate with precision pulses generated by their integrated electronics system. If they fail, you may experience poor fuel economy, rough idling, stalling out after starting up, or even no response when attempting to start up altogether due do not getting enough fuel into each cylinder reliably enough to fire off properly . Diagnosis of a fuel injector issue usually requires testing both their resistance values with an ohmmeter and visually inspecting them for any signs of leakage around their seals before proceeding with any replacement work . Common replacements include either completely replacing them as a set if they have all failed simultaneously , or just individual injectors if only one has gone bad .

Computer Issues

A 2012 Ram 1500 may experience several computer-related issues that can cause cranking but not starting. The most common symptom of a computer issue is an engine light that will indicate a fault code. Other symptoms can include stalling or intermittent stalling, engine misfires, and decreased fuel economy. The most common causes of computer issues are faulty spark plugs or spark plug wires, a faulty ignition coil, a failed crankshaft position sensor, or a bad camshaft position sensor.

Symptom Diagnosis

If the engine light has come on and indicates a fault code, the first step is to read the code and identify what it means. This can be done by using an OBD-II scanner which connects to the vehicle’s onboard computer and reads the codes. Once the code has been identified, it should be looked up in a service manual to determine what parts need to be replaced.

If there are no fault codes present then further diagnosis may need to be done in order to determine what is causing the issue. This may include checking for spark at the spark plugs with an ohmmeter, testing fuel pressure at the fuel rail with a pressure gauge, or testing for voltage at various components with a multimeter.

Common Replacements

The most common replacements for computer issues on 2012 Ram 1500s are spark plugs and wires, ignition coils, crankshaft position sensors and camshaft position sensors. Spark plugs should be checked and replaced if necessary as they can become fouled over time from oil or fuel contamination. Spark plug wires should also be checked for any signs of wear or damage as these can affect how well the spark plugs fire. Ignition coils should also be checked for any signs of wear or damage as these can affect how well the sparks are produced from each coil.

Crankshaft position sensors and camshaft position sensors can also cause computer issues if they have failed due to age or wear and tear over time. These sensors should also be checked for any signs of wear or damage in order to ensure that they are functioning correctly. If these sensors have failed then they will need to be replaced in order to ensure that they are providing accurate information to the onboard computer system so that it can properly control engine functions such as ignition timing and fuel delivery.

Other Notable Causes

In addition to computer issues there could also be other causes of cranking but not starting on 2012 Ram 1500s such as faulty fuel pump relays, bad fuel injectors or clogged fuel filters which will need to be diagnosed and replaced if necessary in order to get the vehicle running again.

Symptom Diagnosis

In order to properly diagnose these other issues it will first be necessary to check all fuses in the vehicle’s fuse box(es) as well as any relays related to fuel delivery such as those located near the fuel pump itself which could have become stuck open due to corrosion over time resulting in no power being delivered when attempting to start up the vehicle even though cranking is occurring normally indicating that power is present elsewhere in the system but not enough is reaching where it needs too when attempting startup due possible bad connections between components related directly with delivering power from source(s) towards destination(s). If all fuses/relays check out ok then further diagnosis may need performed such as checking for voltage at various points throughout related systems such as those related with fuel delivery (i.e.: injector lines, etc.) using a multimeter in order locate problem area(s).

Common Solution/Replacement

Replacements for faulty parts related with other causes of cranking but not starting on 2012 Ram 1500s could include replacing/cleaning clogged/damaged injectors, replacing faulty/stuck open relay(s), replacing worn out/faulty wiring harnesses connecting from source(s) towards destination(s), replacing worn out/faulty connectors (i.e.: ECU connectors), etc.. In some cases replacement of entire unit containing multiple components may need performed such as with replacing entire ECU unit if it has malfunctioned beyond repairable limits due age/wear & tear over time which would require locating compatible replacement one before installation into vehicle ensuring all connections match up with original part prior installation so no issues arise after installation has been completed successfully otherwise more troubleshooting & repairs would then needed completed afterwards until issue has been fully resolved without further complications arising thereafter due improper connections between components during installation process (i.e.: loose connections resulting lost data flow between connected components).

FAQ & Answers

Q: What are some common causes of my 2012 Ram 1500 not starting?
A: Some of the most common causes of a 2012 Ram 1500 not starting include crank sensor issues, alternator issues, ignition coil issues, starter issues, fuel injector issues, computer issues, battery issue and spark plug and wire issues.

Q: What is a symptom diagnosis for crank sensor issues?
A: A symptom diagnosis for crank sensor issues may include an engine that will not start or will start but then immediately stall. Additionally, other symptoms may include poor acceleration or misfires when accelerating.

Q: What is a common replacement for alternator issues?
A: A common replacement for alternator issues is an alternator. Alternators are responsible for providing power to all electrical components while the engine is running, and they can become faulty over time due to wear and tear.

Q: What is a symptom diagnosis for fuel injector issues?
A: A symptom diagnosis for fuel injector issues may include a hard start or no start condition. Additionally, if the vehicle does start there may be rough idling or poor acceleration due to an inadequate amount of fuel entering the combustion chambers.

Q: What is a common solution/replacement for other notable causes?
A: Depending on the cause, there can be several different solutions/replacements. For example, if the vehicle has been sitting idle for an extended period of time then replacing the battery may be necessary to restore power to the electrical components. Similarly if the spark plugs and wires are worn out then replacing them may also resolve any starting problems.

The most likely cause of a 2012 Ram 1500 not starting when the engine cranks is a faulty fuel pump. This can be verified by checking the fuel pressure, listening for a hum from the pump, and inspecting the wiring and connectors. If all of these checks come back negative, then it is likely that the ECU or some other electrical component is at fault.