I drive a 2019 Ram 2500, 6.4 hemi.

2 months ago I tried to start truck. No crank/no start. Just a single click. Knocked the starter with a hammer and got it to turn over. Replaced starter with Carquest remanufactured starter, since it was close and easy.

Ran fine until now. A couple times I noticed a slightly slow crank but figured it was my imagination since it was a new starter.

Walked out this morning and no crank/no start again. Knocked the starter with a hammer and got it to turn over.

Looking for next steps. Thinking just replace with OEM starter thar got me 5 years the first time. Could this be anything else, such as connectors or terminals being dirty? I would think not if the hammer trick works.

At least Ram made it an easy job, but kind of frustrating that I just did this.

Thanks for any advice.

Not a Ram, but I replaced a starter on my Accord with a non-OEM and it caused all kinds of odd electrical issues with the car. I kept getting a Check Engine light and the code was the crank sensor and the car would sometimes go into limp mode. Same kind of "slow to start/long crank" think you mentioned above also.

Found some posts on Honda boards that the non-OEM starters (not all of them) would pull to much voltage from the battery and cause the check engine light and limp mode in the car at times. Took it out (credit to O"Reilly for giving me a full refund) and put in OEM, problem solved.

Honestly though you should be getting more than 5-years out of a starter.

Was the one you replaced it with from CarQuest a new, or rebuild?

I got 5.5 years out of the OEM starter, bought the truck new.

Replaced with a rebuilt carquest starter (had hesitations but wasn't near a dealership and didn't want to get stranded). Got two months.

Make sure it isn't related to your TIPM:

https://verticalvisions.com/en/22-tipm-bypass-cables?srsltid=AfmBOoqLkQYatU3yxDccXhn3DW17ykG3NhrkS1RPZUGofPmXUYoz0y7Y

Had this issue on my 2012. Installed this guy and never had another issue.

How would I confirm if that is a problem or not?

Would banging on the starter with a hammer have worked if it was a TIPM issue?

Personally, I'd just buy one and test it because your symptoms sure sound like the same ones I had when mine started to fail. However, I don't know that hammering the starter would have started my truck towards the end. I did notice that remote start worked longer than the normal method. After a while neither would start the truck and I searched around and found this site. Think that was 2020 and the truck still runs to this day with no issue starting. Not saying it is your problem, but it is an inexpensive test.