Intermittant starting

[340 Dart]

Car is a 74 Duster with a 318. Sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesn't.
I already replaced the Ignition switch and it still does it.

Sometime you can pull on the gear selector (to put it further in park) and it will start. When this doesn't work, I can leave the key on and hot wire my starter relay to start the car.

This is getting old and this car needs to be my daily driver in a few days.

Any ideas?

 

[BJS racing]

Sounds to me like a neutral saftey switch is going bad on you.

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I agree on the Neutral Safety Switch, however it could also be as easy as a linkage adjustment down at the transmission. If you are in a jamb and cant tinker with it, looking at the starter relay from standing AT the DRIVERS fender looking DOWN. It will be the lowest, left-hand terminal on the starter relay. If you use a jumper ground wire to that terminal, you just bypassed the Neutral Safety Switch and it sounds like it should run just fine.

 

[340 Dart]

I crawled under it this morning and I noticed the rubber bushings that go to the linkage are shot. I will replace the neutral safety switch also. Good tip on the bypass Goody.

Thanks.

 

[fishy68]

Be careful when bypassing any saftey switch. That can get you or someone else hurt. Do it only temporarily to test it then fix it right.

My 68 Cuda was bypassed when I bought the car and I didn't know it and was putting a stereo in it and had to have the shifter down in low to get to things. Well I wasn't paying good attention and left it in gear and started the car. Came within about 6" of hitting the workbench before I got it stopped. Good thing nobody was in front of it!!!