The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Hello !

Every times I unplugged and reconnected the batery the car wont start, but the batery is good (optima batery), I load the batery this weekend and I will try again monday but I don't thing the batery is the problem.

Thanks.

Weird ain't it?
Does it crank over at all or just won't fire up?
I know its very easy to overlook but I take it all the starter connections and engine ground straps are good?

Most of the times when I turn the I have nothing,but sometimes she make a noise like if I the batery is low, when the engine is start if I don't push the acelerator the engine stop (like if I have start and stop technologie) the batery is loading, monday I will reconnect all the engin, I would keep you informed.
Thanks

Apewalski70 wrote:Most of the times when I turn the I have nothing,but sometimes she make a noise like if I the batery is low, when the engine is start if I don't push the acelerator the engine stop (like if I have start and stop technologie) the batery is loading, monday I will reconnect all the engin, I would keep you informed.
Thanks

Put the transmission in Park ("P").
Try to crank the engine by making a short circuit at the starter relay (use a screwdriver to touch the two screw terminals on the relay. Those two :


Make sure the brown wire is grounded when you try to start (it should be grounded with the shifter in the "P" and "N" positions). If it's not, you have a problem with the Neutral Safety Switch in the transmission :


That's if you have an automatic transmission. If you have a manual transmission, it's a clutch safety switch (which is useless, and should be grounded, in my opinion).

If doing that from the relay turns your engine over (and not the ignition switch), there's a problem with the wiring or with the switch.

Having to keep the accelerator pedal down a little during the first 3 or 4 minutes is normal, unless you use a choke and it's tuned correctly.

It might be easier for you to ask your questions in French at the Mopar Owners Club Forum ...

Thanks Fbernard,
(its a 4 speed) Today the engine start but he stop if I do not accelerated, I think its a ground problem, I will look at the subjet on this forum.

Just try to extra ground the engine and chassie whit jumper cabels and see if it helps ! A 4 speed Challenger from factory came whit cloutch safety switch on the cloutch pedal that gave the starter relay ground when the pedal whas push´t down to avoid crasy starings by peopol that whas only use to auto trans

The pic shows a 1970 only red slide barrel E-Body switch for the pedal

Thanks Pat,
If cleaning all ground doesn't work I will try, but its strange she works perfect before (exept turn signal with light on) since the day I disconnected the battery I have problems, when the engine stop I do not have any electricity, so I tap the cluster and magic ! Electricity come back, so I started removed cluster for check.

Check the wiring, check for loos terminals in the firewall connectors, and check that the connections at the ammeter are tightened.
the wiring harness on Mopars is not perfect, the ammeter is a well-known problem.

What can also happen sometimes is a wire from the firewall connector can touch the exhaust manifold on the driver side, and make a short circuit.

Also check that the fusible link (from the starter relay to the firewall) is not old, brittle, or corroded. If you can rip it apart simply by pulling on it with your hand, or if the insulator is falling apart, it needs to be replaced.

fbernard wrote:Check the wiring, check for loos terminals in the firewall connectors, and check that the connections at the ammeter are tightened.
.

Yep, top advice from Fabian, could explain tapping the dash gauge cluster to restore power!
The starter safety switch is shit, I'd remove it and ground the starter relay, I did it on my 4 speed.
Let us know how it works out

Okay thanks you every body I try to do that this week and let you know.

I agree whit fbernard ! The original bulkhead on the crowl can be a total nightmare and if you are planing on doing a ceapers car i strongly recomend you to buy al cabel harnesses new repro from Year One as these are made by M&H so they are not only beutifull to look at they also are perfect fit and works great and you will have no more trubbel or fire in your car. If your car whas partly built and sold in europe you will have to convert to the US style of eletric system and change the turn signal rod as they were modifyed for the Europe model whit headlight relays in the engine room but thats about it

Thanks Pat, Harnesses are news (from year one) I removed the cluster, he was screwed badly and a lil bit rust, so I will clean all ground (like that it will repair turn signal) and it should work, keep you informed, no don't worry shes all "american", in france you have to change turn signal if the car has less than 30 years, over 30 years its a collection car : papers and import are less expensive and you don't have to change turn signal.

Okay after clean grounds (Cluster, engine, body, tail light...) engine start great and turn signal work too (exept the driver side, a lil bit slow), I thing it was just bad ground from the cluster, thanks you every body for your help !

With electrical problems its always the simple things that cause the biggest hassles