1988 Doge Ram will not turn over.

What happens when you turn the key to on? Do the warning lights and gauges come on? Turning the key to start, do the lights and gauges stay on? Just nothing at the starter?

Or does power just shut off when you turn the key to start, everything goes out, no warning lights or gauges? Then check cables, battery terminals, grounds for clean tight connections. There is a problem between the battery and the ignition switch.

If the switch still receives and sends power out (to the dash, for one) but start circuit is not working (from battery to ignition switch to clutch switch to starter relay to starter solenoid to starter to ground-and back to battery), then here's where we at: with key off, use a small screwdriver and short the big cable at starter to the starter solenoid small wire connection, or use a small jumper wire to do the same-battery cable at starter to the small wire connection on the starter solenoid. Starter motor should spin and crank engine. Does it? If so, start checking the start wire out of ignition switch for power when key is held in start. If you have a clutch switch, check for power in with key in start. Should have battery voltage to the clutch switch with key held in start. Keep checking the start wire along the start circuit. Not sure how the start relay is wired into the circuit, would have to see a diagram, but if you pull the relay out and use a test light or multi meter, could check for power on the terminals where relay plugs in. Key off, should have one terminal that is hot. With key held in start, at least one other terminal should also be hot. This would be the start wire out of ignition switch sending a signal to the relay.
Good luck, hope you find it. Sorry I don't have a wiring diagram to help you more.

Check the battery and cables.

Starter Fuse? Possible failed ignition switch. Loose Cables on battery or starter. Starter not grounding properly. Bad starter Relay? Use Voltmeter check voltage going to main starter wire while someone cranks the motor if not power check power to starter relay while cranking if no power suspect ignition switch.

CHECK THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR POWER TO GAUGES TO SEE IF THEY WORK WHILE IGNITION IS IN THE ON POSITION.IF NO CHECK THE 40 AMP IGNITION FUSE.IF FUSE GOOD IGNITION SWITCH IS BAD OR HAS A LOOSE OR BROKEN WIRE.IF FUSE GOOD ALL GAUGES IS WORKING.I BE LOOKING AT STARTER AND STARTER SOLENOID.REMOVE THEM HAVE AUTO ZONE TEST STARTER.OR YOU CAN GET A REMOTE STARTER SWITCH AND SET OF BATTERY CABLES.HOOK BATTERY CABLES TO A BATTERY.WITH STARTER OUT OF CAR TAKE BATTERY CABLES HOOK NEGATIVE BATTERY TO STARTER BODY FOR GOOD GROUND.TAKE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE HOOK TO STARTER POSITIVE TERMINAL WHERE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE GOES.THEN HOOK THE REMOTE SWITCH RED WIRE TO STARTER POSITIVE TERMINAL AND THE OTHER REMOTE SWITCH WIRE TO THE S OR SWITCH TERMINAL ON STARTER SOLENOID.PRESS THE REMOTE SWITCH IS STARTER RUNS GOOD WITH NO FUNNY NOISES ITS GOOD IF STARTER DONT RUN THE STARTER SOLENOID OR STARTER IS BAD. THE PROBLEMS IN YOUR CAR COULD BE A BAD KEY TRY ANOTHER KEY YOUR CAR HAS THE THEFT DETERRENT MODULE SYSTEM BEST TO HAVE CAR SCAN TO CHECK THE THEFT SECURITY MODULE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH IF ITS BAD STARTER WONT WORK.ALSO CHECK THE THEFT DETERRENT MODULE RELAY. BEFORE REMOVING BATTERY CABLES TURN OFF RADIO SO YOU WONT LOSE YOUR RADIO PLAYING CODE.

Hey the 80s celica's had a TSB problem concerning the starting of the cars, so it is a factory wiring problem, I have a 1988 celica and all I did was bypass the ignition with a high amp switch straight to the starter and to + on the battery, hope this helps.

Greetings!

Let's keep things simple to start with... Check the battery that it has sufficient charge. (I did say to keep it simple). Ensure the gear selector is in Park or Neutral if equipped with an automatic trans, or depress the clutch pedal if equipped with a manual trans.

Lastly, in keeping things simple... check all the fuses and fuse links (special fusible wire) that power is available to your vehicle's electrical system.

With a test light, check the starter relay with the key in start position is energising the starter relay... bypass the starter relay if no power is present. if the starter operates, you now know the problem is located within the start control circuit (from the key switch through the starter relay to ground via a neutral safety switch (auto) or clutch switch (Manual).

finding the fault should be quick with a circuit diagram.

Cheers, Jay

sounds like the electrical portion of your ignition switch located on steering column above brake pedal

hope2help shack

Key switch?
Starter Solenoid?
Starter?
Battery Cables?
All of these need to be checked.
Do and of the lights work?
Put a meter on the battery. Should show 12 to 13 volts
Have someone try to start the car, Does the voltage change?
Yes, you may have a starter problem.
No, you have a switch, cable or solenoid problem

check the adjustment on the switch rod try to start the engine by removing the rod and moving the ignition switch with a tool sounds like the rack in the column has slipped

I have experienced this problem before. Fuel pump is going, I had experts trying to fiqure out they all thought starter, alt, etc. until I banged on fuel tank and it started. This may not be problem but it sounds like.