2004 Dodge Ram 1500 starting problem

Sounds like a bad ground or a bad battery connection to me. Instead of stepping on the brake, what happens if he turns on the headlights??? A low load can make the connection, allowing the heavy starter load to connect.

Why didn't I think of that? Yeah.

He did mention something funky with the headlights. I had a ground problem with a Toyota and it did weird things!

Sounds like a problem with the ground.

First make sure the battery terminals are clean and well seated.

I'd recommend using a set jumper cables make a second run to either/both the chassis and the engine block.

If that does not work the problem is still likely one of an intermittent ground but it's in a place that will take some work to find.

Follow up. I passed the ground issue along to the guy, but he couldn't tighten anything so he shot them all w/PB Blaster, and says the truck is starting a bit more normally now. I asked about the ground at the starter, but he can't get to it because of his back, and is hoping to get it on a lift soon.

If the starter is bolted to block it's unlike a ground problem at the starter. I would take one half of a jumper set and jump for a good place on the block to the negative terminal of the battery.

If that's the problem you 'can' do it right and run a ground to the starter or take the easy way out and jump from the native terminal to the block. I did that with one of my daughter's friends dodge ram in the early 2000 and except for replacement batteries it still ticking.

Interesting. It certainly resolves the issue of a bad ground!