Car does not turn on?

2004 DODGE DAKOTA
217,000 MILES • 3.7L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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JORGE166
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  • 15 POSTS
So, I just bought this car from an auction (blind sale) and when I went to turn on the car, the ignition wouldn’t start. At first it would sound like it was trying, there would be a sort of clicking sound almost. Based on the noise I heard and where it was coming from, I assumed it was the starter that was bad so I went to replace the starter but after I did that and went to start the car, nothing would happen. It wouldn’t even make the clicking sound like it did before. I would turn the key to on and it would be fine and then I would turn to start the engine and nothing. Assuming maybe the battery was the issue as well, I replaced the battery, but it did nothing as well. I ended up putting the old starter back on because it would at least try to crank with that one but after I put it back on, it also did nothing as well. I feel like it could still be a starter issue but I’m also not 100% sure. At first when the car was trying to crank and would make the clicking sounds, the sounds were coming from the starter but now I’m confused as to why it’s doing nothing now and what I should do next. Also, I should add that I had a key made for the car, but the locksmith said that the car didn’t need a chip. Is it possible that he was wrong and all I need is a key with a chip and have it programmed?
Aug 9, 2023 at 10:33 AM
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STRAILER
  • Experienced Mechanic
  • 55,249 POSTS
Nope, the engine will crank over with the security enabled, it sounds like the engine might be locked up which you should use a breaker bar on the front of the engine to see if you can turn it by hand, if so let's check for power at the trigger wire of the starter to see if you have 12 volts while in the crank position. This guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Here is the starter wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.
Aug 10, 2023 at 10:01 AM
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JORGE166
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  • 15 POSTS
So, I ended up finding out that the car does not have an immobilizer but it does have an aftermarket theft system or security system that disables the starter.
Aug 10, 2023 at 8:28 PM
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JORGE166
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
I don’t know how to bypass it, I tried removing the wires that was going from the starter to that system and the wire that was going from the ignition switch to that system and connecting them to make a direct connection but when then the starter doesnt engage.
Aug 10, 2023 at 8:29 PM
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STRAILER
  • Experienced Mechanic
  • 55,249 POSTS
Yep, this is the problem, I have removed many of these aftermarket units. Follow the wires from the unit and reconnected the wiring harness back to stock and you should be all set.
Aug 11, 2023 at 3:16 AM
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