Starter relay troubles.

[skywardpc]

  Well tonight after putting a few items in the interior of the trunk tonight, I went to crank up the car and it would not start.  The ignition key would not turn the motor over.  The starter relay switch is a new one.  It was bought about 2 weeks ago.  I was having the same issue until I changed the old one with this new one.  The car cranked fine for about 2 weeks until now.  I can do the whole start it with a screw driver on the starter relay and can crank it there.  Any ideas on a possible problem or do you think auto parts place sold me a bad starter relay?  The car in question is a 74 Charger.

[W4ATL]

Make sure the ignition switch is closing the relay in the "crank" position.

[Ghoste]

Wouldn't hurt to make sure the neutral safety switch isn't the culprit too.

[GN]

My 74 is doing the same. Replaced it 4 times in the last year, twice in 2 weeks. However, this one appears to be lasting a little longer. (carry a spare now) I did replace the battery cables. The neg. small wire was coming apart and the positive was corroded to the starter. I belive that when starting the motor, the relay was drawing to much power and destroying the relay. If you find it to be something else please let me know. Thanks.

[b5blue]

Ghoste is right jiggle the shifter around a bunch or put a jumper on there to check it... check All the ground straps by taking them off and cleaning them too! 

[y3chargerrt]

Starter relays rarely go bad. The starter current does not flow through it.