More Demons in the Duster

[69bronzeT5]

So, we put a ground strap from the firewall to the block because we realized the last owner forgot to put it back on. Solved all the electrical problems, it was starting everytime, all the lights worked....all was good....or so I thought. I knew I needed a new battery so I went out and bought a new one today. Put it in and the car fired right up. Turned the lights on and backed down the driveway. Took 2 trips up the street and back. I turned the lights off on one trip. One the way back to my house, coming down the street I went to turn the headlights on and poof, the car died. I ended up coasting back to my house. Anyways, after that it wouldn't start at all with the key and when you crossed the starter relay, it would turn over but no spark. So we did the good 'ole run a wire from the coil to the battery trick and it starts everytime with the key now. As soon as you remove the wire though it dies.......what's up?

[71_deputy]

SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THE FUSABLE LINK is toast- should be from the stater relay to the harness- larger wire- should FEEL different than the others!

[BigBlackDodge]

SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THE FUSABLE LINK is toast- should be from the stater relay to the harness- larger wire- should FEEL different than the others!

Thats what i was thinking. Was the Alt gauge bouncing around any....or pegged? Could also be a loose voltage regulator or a bad one.


BBD

[69bronzeT5]

Not that I saw no.

[b5blue]

Starer relay connections? 

[69bronzeT5]

Starer relay connections?  

Nope, all good there. Also a new relay bought in June. Get this though, went out this morning and unhooked the wire we put from the coil to the battery and it started. Lights work now but when you turn the blinker on, the alt gauge drops to nothing. I swear this thing is like Christine

[Needa68]

In 1968, my new Coronet R/T used to do the same thing. Turned out the problem was at the bulk head connector. In the engine compartment at the bulkhead connector the center cable was not making good contact. The center cable carries the circuit that runs from the starter relay through the fusible length, then through the bulk head connector to the ammeter on the dash. It carries a lot of current for the size of the wire used. Disconnect the center cable from the bulkhead connector to make sure Pin J is making good contact.

To find Pin J trace the wire with the fusible link in it to the bulkhead. Don't be surprised if you have difficult removing the cable. Sometimes the leads at Pin J weld to each other or short out to surrounding wires. Also be careful when removing the cable connector from the bulkhead connector. The cable locking tabs can be easily broken if one pries to hard with a screw driver. Been there, done that!

Also, if the contacts are not burned pull some maintenance while you have the cable removed. Burnish the Pin J contacts and coat them with some electrical grease before reassembling.