Promblem starting 04 Dodge

[allstockracer]

I recently purchased a 04 crew cab with a 5.9 cummins auto from a auction. The tow truck driver that brought the truck to the impound told me that the truck was stolen and left in the middle of the road. I guess it died there. the truck has 130k on it. in the parking lot after I puchased the truck my initial inspection was the column pieces were taken apart and the ignition was broke off out of the column. I stuck some pliers in there and got the truck to go into the on position where the gauges came on and everything. the truck wouldnt start at the ignition so I jumped the relay under the hood and it fired right up with jumper cables on the batt. I noticed that the truck wasnt charging so I loaded it on a tow truck and got it home. I bought two new batteries for the truck and noticed that the passenger battery had a power from the alt and the driver side didnt. so I found the wire that ran across and replaced it and now it charges. I then called dodge and had them cut me a key and they said that the truck didnt have a chipped key so they cut me one and my locksmith buddy re-keyed an ignition to work with the stock key set up. My problem is that the truck still doesnt start with the key I have to jump the relay.

I drove the truck 30 miles the other day and it got around 23-24 mpg. It doesnt appear under the hood that anything was done to the truck, and it does have stock exhaust. A friend told me that it prolly had a programmer on it and it was stolen from the truck. I do know that when I rev the it kinda hangs and then slowly revs back down . doesnt seem to be right. I really would love to figure out what is wrong with this truck as I would like to keep it for a daily driver. any information or things to check would be awesome. Thanks in advance and GOD bless.

[BDGibson4]

I don't think that's a programmer port, or at least nothing I have ever dealt with. I bought an old 1500 when I was in high school that had a port like that and it was (ironically) a theft deterrent device. There was a "key" that fit in there that would let the truck start. Your "programming port" is that one mounted down to the right of that, called your OBDII port. Used for diagnostics and also what your Smarty/Bullydog/Edge products use to connect to your ECM.

This would make sense why the key wont work but jumping the relay (after that device) does. I would trace those wires and see where they go. See if they are tied into the ignition switch. It looks like they are going straight up to the column.

I tried to google it but am not coming up with much responses or products that utilize that type of device. I would definitely trace those wires though and see what its hooked up to. If they do go to the ignition switch, just remove them and re solder the original wires back together. Are there any names or information on that port?