ANOTHER BIG PROBLEM

[Rolling_Thunder]

Alright...   so i go to start the car and nothing...   zip...      try and try then i get a click from the starter...    so i figure the starter it toast...   so i go get a replacement and 5 hours later i turn the key...   nothing...    still...       The was was starting and running fine before then all of a sudden - nothing....       battery has just over 12V, getting 12V to the starter replay - tried jumping the relay and i still get nothing....     any ideas ?

[firefighter3931]

Negative cable poorly grounded ? Neutral safety switch ?

Ron

[Rolling_Thunder]

neutral safty is engaged...     (car is in neutral)   

Battery Cable is grounded right to the engine block...     

[firefighter3931]

How is the wiring to the neutral safety switch ? Is it possible the wireing is damaged or disconnected ? The neutral safety switch itself could be defective. The starter relay could also be defective.

Ron

[Rolling_Thunder]

but if i just the starter relay wouldnt it still try to start ?    Also if i send the 12V directly to the starter as in connecting the two wires...   if should try to start even if the neutral safety is faulty - i would imagine anyway....       So I am at a loss right now...   

[firefighter3931]

The neutral safety switch is wired to the starter relay. If the switch is malfunctioning or disconnected it shouldn't start. Check the wiring to the neutral safety switch. 

Ron

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well....   i still dont understand - I put 12V directly to the starter wire - jumping the relay - meaning the relay has nothing to do in the equasion...      still nothing

[y3chargerrt]

You have the ground wire connected from the back of the block to the firewall?

[Rolling_Thunder]

    Do i really need one ?  I have solid motor mounts - doesnt that ground the engine to the chassis ?    And my question is why would it all of a sudden be an issue ?   

[BigBlackDodge]

   Do i really need one ?  I have solid motor mounts - doesnt that ground the engine to the chassis ?    And my question is why would it all of a sudden be an issue ?   

It could be that the starter you put in was toast already. Was it a new one or a Pep-boys rebuilt jobber? Some of them discount auto supply parts are pretty iffy.


Maybe you need to get a man of the cloth to rid that car of the gremilins lurking inside!


BBD

[Rolling_Thunder]

I had them test it in front of me to prove it worked...    it did...      so other than gorunding i cant really think of anything ?

[tecmopar]

This may sound silly but make sure that the battery cable connections at the battery AND the starter are clean and tight. Just a slightly lose connection will cause this every time. Also, when you jump the wires, can you hear the bendix gear engaging. Just because they tested and  it worked out of the car doesn't mean it can handle a load. Good luck.

[Rolling_Thunder]

no - the gear does not engage....      there must be something i am overlooking....     

[cudaken]

Thunder, have you used a test light at the starter? I will bet you are not getting power to the solenoid. I had the same thing on my POS. There are 2 + wires off the + side of the battery, one to the starter and one to the relay. The smaller one was cut and I used a butt plug (that what it is called). Before the plug I had power, after it there was nothing.

I used the test light with the sharp end that can be pushed through the cover of the wire. Mine was dead at the relay and I all so could not jump it with a screw driver.

                              Cuda Ken, back again

[Steve P.]

Corrosion is the leading culprit in these problems. Just looking at your cables and cable ends doesn't allways cut it. Sometimes the corrosion is inside the insulation and has eaten much of your wire up taking away your path of electrical power to the starter. It can sometimes be very hard to find especially with headers blocking your view..  I like to use a known test cable as a jumper to by-pass the relay completely. Then jump to the triggering wire.  Just MAKE SURE you are in PARK or at least back  wheels off the ground.. We don't want anyone hurt....