starter, battery or what?? tries to start

[69dodge383]

Got 440 in car and had running great. Went to start car today and starter starts fine but then like loses steam and quits. Its like it loses power. I check the batter and it reads over 13v?


Any ideas?

I know for a fact this is not a fuel or spark issue.

[MaximRecoil]

Check your ballast resistor.

[ws23rt]

There are three items needed that make it run..  Fuel--Spark---Compression.

My is it is fuel related.  Check fuel filter.   Do you get a good squirt from the accelerator pump at the time the engine dies?
If it only runs while the engine is cranking than it would be the ballast resistor.

[A383Wing]

sounds like either battery is bad or possible starter problem. Could be connection or corrosion cable issue as well'

The ballast resistor has nothing to do with the starting circuit on the car. Just because the starter has 13v does not mean it has the amps to do the job

[MaximRecoil]

sounds like either battery is bad or possible starter problem. Could be connection or corrosion cable issue as well'

The ballast resistor has nothing to do with the starting circuit on the car. Just because the starter has 13v does not mean it has the amps to do the job

He said that it starts and then dies, meaning it is not a starter or battery issue.

[polywideblock]

if it will run while key is in start possision but dies on release (back to run) its the ignition switch  or ecu

[MaximRecoil]

if it will run while key is in start possision but dies on release (back to run) its the ignition switch  or ecu

Or the ballast resistor.

Actually, rereading his post, I'm wondering what he's saying:

"Went to start car today and starter starts fine but then like loses steam and quits."

I originally took this to mean that the car starts and then dies, but "starter starts" may not be referring to the starter starting the engine, it may be referring to the starter starting to crank the engine and then quitting before the engine starts. If so, it is battery, starter, or electrical connection related. I would start with trying a known good battery and making sure the terminals are clean.

[A383Wing]

I had to re-read it a number of times and I took it as the starter was slowing down & spinning slower

[ws23rt]

I had to re-read it a number of times and I took it as the starter was slowing down & spinning slower

I agree That is what it looks like he said.

[69dodge383]

I will try a couple things in the morning. If they don't work out I will post a link to a video of the car and what it is doing. I wil keep you all posted.

[Cooter]

Like trying to give a haircut over the phone...

[69dodge383]

Went and got a new battery (needed one for another project anyway) and got same result. Turns out it was a loose engine ground. Got it tightened up and she fired right up. Thank god it was not the starter.