My daughter's Durango takes at least 2 turns of the key before the starter turns. It has a 5.2l magnum, original starter, and a battery that's over 5 years old with 59,000 miles on it. The alternator is charging showing about 15 volts on the gauge. This morning the temperature was 4* and it took 5 turns of the key before the starter ran. After that, it started normally.
I'm suspecting the battery, but I'm wondering if it's something in the starting circuit.

Thanks,

Ancient battery most likely, which also means cruddy connections, not only on the battery, but also on the starter itself.

Now, back to your real issue- you are saying the truck won't start easily when it's stone-cold? It takes a bunch of cranking to get it to fire off? But once it's running, it works as designed all day, until it gets stone-cold again?

Could be fuel filter/pump related. But more likely the air idle motor on the back of the throttle body. this seems to be a fairly common problem on these late 90's Dodges. My 97 Dakota is included in that mix.

It's an easy fix, right on top of the engine, and the part is cheap.

But a 5 year old battery? NO way I'd be going into winter with one that old!

It's not a fuel problem, but I suspected the battery doesn't have enough cranking amps. Nothing happens the first time the key is turned, but all other electricals work normal. I'm planning to get a new battery tomorrow. I'll clean the starter terminals when the weather warms up.
Thanks for the tip.

Do you hear a repetitive clicking noise,one click or no noise at all? repetitive clicking would be a battery,one click most of the time would be a starter and nothing at all I would look for poor ground or positive cable connections. IMO
Tom

No clicks!

ok in the PDC ck the fuse. Also with help turn the key and put you finger in the starter relay do you feel any thing? Pull the relay and jump the the two larger pins 87 to 30 this should cause the starter to work.BTW you can swap the relay with any of them.Let me know what results you get.

With a temp of -8* this morning, the starter would not work. I just switched the relay with wiper relay and it still doesn't work. I'm home alone right now but I did hear a small click (relay?) with each turn of the key. The starter has 194,000 miles on it.
I have the FSM on CD.

Time for a new starter. At 194,000 miles you got the best out of it. Gene

I pulled the starter this afternoon and had it tested at the local O'Reilly Auto and it worked perfectly. Re-installed it, went to hook up the ground cable to the battery when the 2 wires fell out of the factory steel clamp that came with the Durango. I removed the harness tape around the clamp, and the clamp was barely crimped, the wires must of just been floating in the clamp all of these years.

I crimped it tight and covered the connection with hockey tape, the engine started right up. Did it 5 times, and it started every time.

Thanks to all who responded to my question with tips and suggestions, check those steel battery clamps if any of your vehicles have them.