i think my starter died

[hooD]

Today my car would not start.  When i turned the key, all i could hear was a soft whine sound.  Nothing spun or clicked or turned over.  This is the original starter and i know it is old, but it has not showed any symptoms of going bad.  Could anything else other than the starter be bad?

Autozone sells a duralast starter for $50 with a $15 core charge.  If mine tests bad, i'll get their starter but i will keep my original.

[Bullitt-]

Hey Larry, you getting healed up?.......I'm guessing it's not the starter, you should have at least heard the relay on the fender click, check your battery cable & all electrical connections.

[hooD]

Hello bullitt...i will check my cables, but they seem OK.  I hear a slight sound where the fusible link is on the fender.  I need to go under the car and check the connections at the starter.  I am getting better and just about as good as almost new!  I'll let you know what i figure out with my starting problem.

[hooD]

how do i by-pass my relay?   do i jump the thick wires?  i think the relay could be the problem, it makes a rattleling sound when turning the key.

[dodj]

how do i by-pass my relay?   do i jump the thick wires?

Yes, top stud to the middle bolt head.

That 'rattling' sound could be caused by poor connections - the relay picking up and dropping out quickly. The yellow wire (bottom left in your photo) should have battery voltage when the key is turned to start, and the brown wire (bottom right in your photo) should supply solid ground through your trans nss.

[burdar]

Larry, I recommend getting your original starter rebuilt.  The original starter to my Challenger has been rebuilt at least 3 times over the years.  A small shop in my home town would charge $35 to go through the starter.  On that car I'd want to run the original starter. 

[Chryco Psycho]

if it rattles it either has low power from bad connections  or a discharged battery

[hooD]

Posted by: Chryco Psycho
if it rattles it either has low power from bad connections  or a discharged battery

I feel kind of dumb right now.  Chryco Psycho was right, it was my battery and not my starter or relay.  I had the old battery tested and it was only at 66% of charge.  It lasted 7 years and was rated as a 5 year battery.  I put a new battery in and she fires right up!     Thanks everyone.

[Chryco Psycho]

 
Glad you got it sorted out . pretty rare for a Mopar starter to fail unlike GM

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Glad you got it sorted out . pretty rare for a Mopar starter to fail unlike GM

A few years back mine was dying a slow death, but at least it gave me a warning...And I'm thankful for that. I would turn the key and get nothing. Whack the starter with a hammer, and it would fire up. I figured I'd better change it, before my hammer method wouldn't work any more. The mini-starter I put in seems a good alternative. Turns the engine fast, and takes the abuse of heat from the headers. I can understand wanting to stay with the stock starter in this situation though.   

[Cuda Gooding]

Posted by: Chryco Psycho
if it rattles it either has low power from bad connections  or a discharged battery

I feel kind of dumb right now.  Chryco Psycho was right, it was my battery and not my starter or relay.

Good advice, and not just a Mopar thing.  Even much newer cars will emit a similar rattling sound when the battery is almost dead.  Also watch the dome light and/or dash lights when you turn the key; they'll dim to almost nothing.

[brads70]

Posted by: Chryco Psycho
if it rattles it either has low power from bad connections  or a discharged battery

I feel kind of dumb right now.  Chryco Psycho was right, it was my battery and not my starter or relay.  I had the old battery tested and it was only at 66% of charge.  It lasted 7 years and was rated as a 5 year battery.  I put a new battery in and she fires right up!     Thanks everyone.

Your not alone!  ( check/replace your battery cables too!....ask me how I know! )
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=79032.0