Author Topic: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway  (Read 2756 times)

Offline Chris Pauluk

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73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« on: May 05, 2017 - 04:08:47 AM »
Never had this issue before. 

Cruising at a steady freeway speed.   
It dies.    Coast to the shoulder...

Tried to start it, wouldn't start.
Cranking a few more times, it's cranking strong. 
Then all if a sudden.   Won't turn over at all now.
No clicking sound at all.   
Stereo, horn, lights are all good.   

Any pointers?
Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..




Offline xtopfuel

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2017 - 04:29:27 AM »
not quite enough information but sounds like a electrical issue, possibly a wire came off or melted, I would look between the starter relay and ignition system on firewall for a fusible link or wire issue

Offline Chris Pauluk

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2017 - 06:12:40 AM »
My starter relay also has the msd 6AL tied into it.   
I'm thinking since the previous owners wired it wrong that maybe the relay went bad and killed the power feed to the ignition system. 

I'll rerun the msd + direct to battery and try a new relay tomorrow. 

I used a screw driver to jump the starter relay and it kicked right over.

This is all I got for now. 

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Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..

Offline xtopfuel

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2017 - 06:17:54 AM »
sounds like you have it, good job

Offline Chris Pauluk

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2017 - 06:29:23 AM »
We'll see. All a theory. 
Tried tapping on the relay with it in the start position with nadda as well.

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Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2017 - 07:22:38 AM »
Do you know how to bypass the starter relay by shorting across the posts to see if will still turn over the starter (crank)?
Sounds like there may be 2-issues now... 1-no start .. 2- no crank   
Any sort of wiring issue could impact either but it's gotta crank first of all..
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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Offline 1 Wild R/T

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2017 - 11:40:25 AM »
There is absolutely nothing wrong with grabbing power from the starter relay for the MSD, keep looking & don't waste time or money on the stater relay... To start try wiggling the connectors at the bulkhead.....
JS27N0B 70 Challenger R/T Convertible  FJ5 Sublime, Show Poodle w/90,000 miles since resto
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Offline Chris Pauluk

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2017 - 01:02:49 PM »
There is absolutely nothing wrong with grabbing power from the starter relay for the MSD, keep looking & don't waste time or money on the stater relay... To start try wiggling the connectors at the bulkhead.....
When I bridged the connection on the starter relay, it kicked right over.   

It only seems logical to replace it. 

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Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2017 - 04:24:26 PM »
See if your getting votage to the Yellow wire going to the relay when ignition switch is turned to start..
Also need to see ground on the black wire coming from the NSS or clutch switch. 



Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
Screwed by Photobucket!

Offline 73440

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2017 - 04:28:23 PM »
Dieing suddenly sounds like a wire loose , broken , disconnected or grounding out.
I had extra wire tucked behind a battery box that after years a hole had rubbed thru the insulation and at certain times the wire would touch and kill the engine., pushed that bike a few times and miles before finding the problem.
67 440
72 413 / 727
73 Barracuda w/ 68 440
65 Plymouth Fury III , I sold ,was my Nana's car till 92 yo.
51 Ford F1 239 Flathead, flipped , new cab , stolen
59 BelAir 283 4 door original patina
01 Chevy van 420, 520 miles
06 Crown Vic Police Interceptor
75 HD Ironhead converted to RH shift
73 HD Ironhead
82 HD Ironhead
74 Norton 850
80 HD Shovelhead
80 Husqvarna WR 390

Offline Chris Pauluk

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2017 - 04:43:53 PM »
Yellow wire has juice when start.. 
I dont have a NSS.   
Replaced the relay, kicked right over by key. 

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Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..

Offline 73440

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2017 - 06:17:05 PM »
Good deal!
67 440
72 413 / 727
73 Barracuda w/ 68 440
65 Plymouth Fury III , I sold ,was my Nana's car till 92 yo.
51 Ford F1 239 Flathead, flipped , new cab , stolen
59 BelAir 283 4 door original patina
01 Chevy van 420, 520 miles
06 Crown Vic Police Interceptor
75 HD Ironhead converted to RH shift
73 HD Ironhead
82 HD Ironhead
74 Norton 850
80 HD Shovelhead
80 Husqvarna WR 390

Offline 1970 RT Challenger 1970

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2017 - 08:08:16 PM »
I once had a wire vibrate off my MSD coil on the 440, the female connector was not tight enough to the male connector.
Parked it the night before in the garage and was fine. Went to start the next day, deader than a doornail.
An easy fix at home. Always keep tools and a light with you.

 


Offline Chris Pauluk

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #13 on: May 06, 2017 - 08:27:12 PM »
I once had a wire vibrate off my MSD coil on the 440, the female connector was not tight enough to the male connector.
Parked it the night before in the garage and was fine. Went to start the next day, deader than a doornail.
An easy fix at home. Always keep tools and a light with you.
I'll definitely get a tool kit built for the car. 

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Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..

Offline Chris Pauluk

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Re: 73 Cuda. died while cruising on freeway
« Reply #14 on: May 23, 2017 - 12:43:26 PM »
What would you suggest for a good setup for a roadside mopar toolkit?

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Chris Pauluk
Eagan Minnesota
1973 Plymouth Cuda 340 4spd (70 AAR clone'ish) bought it that way..