@#$%%^! Starter

[BadJoey]

Starter is a rebuild about 2 or 3 years old . Even at 3 years maybe 2000 miles how many times could it have been used . Every so often it clicks at the starter without turning over . Cleaned the cables couldn't be that lucky . The 60 bucks don't have me pissed dropping the headers and jacking the motor does . Any ideas out there ?

[Bullitt-]

The last dozen posts that started out as "Bad Starter" turned out to be something else.
   Typically a bad battery cable.  Don't be in a big hurry to pull the starter.
 

[burdar]

Tap the starter with a rubber hammer and try it again. Are you using a stock starter? They don't work good when they get hot. You should look into a mini starter. You can use a factory mini from a mid 90's Dakota. It will bolt right on. You can get one from a junk yard very cheap. A parts store will have a rebuilt until pretty cheap too.

[Jamiez]

dist gap, Ballast resistor, coil, or ignition module seem to be the bulk of ignition related problems.  Those should be a lot easier to swap than a starter.  I'd try those first

[BadJoey]

Pretty sure it's the starter . Car is not turning over . At the time I just got home so it was hot . I got it going when I popped the clutch .  It wasn't rolling fast enough to start but it moved something just enough . It then started 6 or 7 times . I heard something about a flat spot one time is that a real problem ?

[burdar]

Don't use the stock starter with headers. Go get a factory mini. Yes, you can get a bad spot on the starter. Tapping it can move things around enough to get it to work again...until it stops on that spot again.

[RzeroB]

Maybe it's not the starter but instead the starter relay? A lot easier and cheaper to substitute a known good relay in there to see if it solves the problem for you.

[burdar]

Jump the two starter posts. That will bypass the relay.

[Chryco Psycho]

Mopar starters are very reliable usually , it could be a problem with the rebuilder , I installed 4 in my Warlock , finally the rebuilder refused warranty so it took the starter apart & found the problem there was a coating on the contact ring so I took it back to the rebuilder in Pieces I showed him why they were having the problem . Heat is usually the the reason they have problems especially around headers ,, you could try wrapping the starter or building a heat sheild

[tman]

How about the basic condition of the battery?  How old is it?  Should have almost 13 volts with nothing running. 

[BadJoey]

Just spent $200.00 on a mini starter and a heat shield .This should last longer then I will .
http://www.summitracing.com/search?keyword=sum-350118&dds=1
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pwm-9613

[jimynick]

Now that you've got your nice, new starter; if you care to find out what went wrong with the old one, it's likely the brushes sticking in their holders or a bad/corroded spot on the communtater (sic?). That's why tapping it or bumping it sometimes works,  as it causes the connection to re-establish itself in a new, working spot. Usually fairly easy to repair. See if any of the old garage guys have a growler" and they'll explain the drill. 

[72cudamaan]

dist gap, Ballast resistor, coil, or ignition module seem to be the bulk of ignition related problems.  Those should be a lot easier to swap than a starter.  I'd try those first

Unfortunately none of the parts would keep the starter from cranking.

[72cudamaan]

As little use as these cars get I have seen alot of corrosion issues just from sitting. If
the windings or even wire connections get a bit of corrosion on them, the wiring or armature can't get a good flow of current. Sometimes
this happens, then the starter may engage just slightly until it gets to a good contact point, then
it cranks effectively and your car starts. So... has your car been sitting for quite a while?

[BadJoey]

Car sits in a (little) heated garage over winter . Ran it several times this year and this was the second time this happened . The tech guy at Summit used the phrase " heat soaked "it happens a lot .At this point it's all water under the bridge . New starter is in the garage and will be in in a few hours .