Starter Problems

[rebelcuda73]

I have a 73 cuda with a 340 in it.It hadn't ran for a couple of years.try to start and the starter was no good replaced it with a old one laying around it started but the starter gave out and the heads leaked.Replaced the head gaskets and bought a rebuilt starter from auto zone and the car started but after running for about 10 mins if you turned the car off it would not restart till the next day.Had problems with the new starter and replaced that one with another one from auto zone.System was not charging so I replaced the voltage regulator,stater relay box and coil and starter wire.Went start the car all it did was click,put a screw driver across the starter terminals it kept clicking until it cranked but it would crank slowly and then crank fast.Then all it would do is click wether you turned the key,or used a screw driver across the terminals of either the starter or the relay box.I checked for voltage across the starter and the relay and got 12 volts but I have 12 volts wether its in the start postion or not???What gives sorry that this is so long but trying to give as much info as possible!!

[Bullitt-]

I'm guessing bad battery to starter wire...seen this several times before.

[rebelcuda73]

I replaced the main battery wire and used the old wire for the other line.I am going to replace that one this weekend and I also changedthe negative wire and where the negative wire from the battery connects changed from the water pump to the left head after reading a post in electrical. But I need to go back and make sure the contact is clean.The battery that I used to start the car was from my Durango and its only a couple of months old.And the way it is hooked up I got it to crank before after taking a screw driver back and forth between the relay and starter screws.But then it stoped and would'nt do it again.My buddy says its the starter but like I said this is the 2nd rebuilt starter and the thought of having to drop the headers and everything else is a hassle.And if thats the case I will propbably look to get a mini starter of some sort its not worth the hassle to keep taking it apart.What does'nt make sense to me is if it is the starter again why have i gone through so many starters and the car hasn't even been driven or ran for longer than 10mins at a time. Thanks Chris

[Bullitt-]

I put a mini starter(from a early 90's V6) on when I installed headers... went right in with the headers on.
   Maybe bad luck or maybe never had a starter problem to begin with.

[rebelcuda73]

I put jumper cables to the starter and all it did was click.Moved the starter so it sat on the headers and tried it again and all it did was click again.So now i'm going through the process of taking it apart again.I will then go back to auto zone and see if they will put it towards a different starter or give me store credit.Either way I am putting a mini starter in this is too much trouble just to change a starter.It would probably be cheaper to go to the junk yard to get a used one.Does any 90s starter work or only certain ones? Thanks Chris

[Bullitt-]

I just took a crap shoot & got one from a V-6, I think 93....I just checked & there a different part numbers over the years as well as differences for engines.... I understand that some headers cannot use the mini starter as it is wider than the OEs...you might want to research 1st 

[rebelcuda73]

Thanks for the info I will look into it tomorrow and hopefully get it all straigthen out. Thanks Chris

[73EStroker]

Call me crazy - but I am thinking the head gaskets here. Are you sure you are not getting some coolant leaking into the cylinder and hydraulicing at TDC. The starter will definitely not turn the engine over with non-compressible fluid in there such as water. Simple fix is to remove all the plugs and see if the engine cranks over.

[rebelcuda73]

When I replaced the head gaskets everything was clean and the engine was only ran in the garage for about 10 mins and then shut off..Any left over water on the piston tops were cleaned out.Also checked oil it was clean but replaced just in case.The engine does turn using a breaker bar but I will check what you are saying after I replace the starter i will remove the plugs and check.Thanks for the info Chris

[Aussie Challenger]

How tight is the motor? I got called out one night to a friends house were they were trying to start a new motor, they had 4 good batteries jumped and it wouldn't turn. Ended up somebody put a big end cap on back to front.      

[rebelcuda73]

As it turns out the starter was no good again.I didn't want to believe it or take it apart again.Two rebuilt starters from auto zone and two old ones laying around the garage.I took the advice from the info I've gotten from here and got a mini starter.A 92 1/2 ton pick up rebuilt from auto zone and they were nice enough to except the other one as the core.What a difference in size and weight and looks like I won't have to remove the header should I ever need to replace it.And as soon as I turned the key it cranked no problem.I'll get to run it this weekend.Thanks for the help guys!!

[Chryco Psycho]

 

[barryv]