Starting Issues

[moparmaniac59]

I am having issues with starting. This just happened over the weekend. I turn the ignition key & nothing. I can put the key into the 'run' position and then go jumper out the terminals on the starter relay with a screwdriver and it will start. Does this sound like a bad ballast resistor?? I looked at the neutral safety switch plug on the transmission and it appears to be fully plugged in & no burned wires that I can see. Any ideas?? I think I will try another ballast resistor and see what happens. In the mean time, I am open to suggestions as I plan to leave for Carlisle tomorrow!! (HOPEFULLY). 

                                                     Matt B.

[Supercuda]

Sounds like a dead starter relay to me. If you need to jump the terminals to make the starter move, the relay's bad. If you need to jump the terminals to get spark, the relay's bad. A bad ballast only keeps it from running, once the engine is started.

[500Stroker]

 Try and start the car in neutral.  See if you get anything.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

There is a wire that goes to the neutral safety switch on the starter relay. It is a ground wire, when the NSS is in park or neutral it grounds that terminal on the relay. If you Put a jumper wire to ground on that terminal, that will tell you if it is the NSS or not.

[burdar]

Had the same problem and it ended up being worn shifter linkage.  The trans wasn't going all the way into Park.  It would start in Neutral though.  Most likely your problem is with the NSS or the relay.

[dodj]

There is a wire that goes to the neutral safety switch on the starter relay. It is a ground wire, when the NSS is in park or neutral it grounds that terminal on the relay. If you Put a jumper wire to ground on that terminal, that will tell you if it is the NSS or not.

Best way to see if the problem is in the interlock or the power cct. Don't waste your money on the ballast resistor, it's not involved with turning over, and seeing as it started with the screwdriver, the ignition (ballast res.) is ok.

[moparmaniac59]

It was the ground wire on the starter relay!! A 5 second fix. That's the ones I don't mind fixing!!


                                                      Matt B.