need help...car show tomorrow...electrical issue?

[jhaas63]

I recently changed out my starter relay on my 72 Dart (318 powered). I was having an issue with the car just suddenly not starting. When you would turn the ignition key over, everything would be normal however the engine would not engage. I thought it was that relay but now it is doing it again. Basically, the motor will just randomly not engage every now and then. I can start the car by jumping the starter relay.

Of course I am an hour from home at my parents cabin for a car show tomorrow. Any ideas as the solution for this? Thanks.

 

[cosgig]

Hey Jim, anybody that knows me will tell you when they ask me about an electrical problem my answer will always be the same...connections, connections, connections!!! Go through as many of the connections as you can and clean them up with a small brass wire brush. Start with the battery and clean both the posts and the terminals, then the lugs on the starter relay, the ground wire to the motor, and the lugs on the starter. This usually solves 95% of the electrical problems as you describe, and best of all...it's FREE!!!

Does the electrical system come on and then dim out when you try to start it?? Leave the door open when you try and check the dome light. If it goes right out, i'd bet money it's simply a battery connection. I had the 66 out a couple weeks ago, no problem. 2 days later went to start it again...nothing!!! Cleaned the battery terminals...voila!!

Have you tried to start it in neutral to bypass the neutral safety switch?? How about making sure the shifter is fully in park?? Try both of these if it happens again to eliminate the possibility that the neutral safety switch isn't thinking the car isn't in park!!

I still put $$$ on a connection somewhere, since it doesn't happen all the time!! Good luck, and enjoy the show!!! Geof

 

[CUUDAK]

As stated in previous post it could be the neutral safety switch. But, I had a simular issue. I could turn the key and spin the engine over and crank it but as soon as I let off the key it would die. It would also die driving down the road. Was the ignition switch in the dash. Replaced it and never happened again.
Just a couple of my pennies!

 

[cudamark]

If it starts every time by jumping it at the relay, you've eliminated the starter, battery, and cables as the problem. If the starter is not making a sound, it's going to be the relay, ignition switch, bulkhead connector, neutral safety switch, or somewhere in the wiring to and from those components. If the starter is working every time and the engine is just not starting, it could be somewhere in the ignition system.

 

[memike]

Make sure the relay is grounded real good , hope this helps..