DodgeCharger.com Forum

Mopar Garage => Electric, Gauges, & Lights => Topic started by: 'CUDA360 on December 05, 2005, 10:44:51 PM

Title: Hard starting
Post by: 'CUDA360 on December 05, 2005, 10:44:51 PM
Trying to start the '74 Charger. It turns over OK 5 or 10 revolutions if you jump the relay but then it acts like the battery is run down. Using the keyswitch just makes a clicking sound.

The battery, starter, relay and ballast resistor check out OK but the thing gives up after a couple of trys and then I have to wait several hours before it will turn over again.

Any ideas ?
Title: Re: Hard starting
Post by: Chryco Psycho on December 06, 2005, 02:26:45 AM
start checking the ground connections & the battery cables
Title: Re: Hard starting
Post by: Spartan on December 06, 2005, 07:19:58 PM
I would start with the battery cables first.   When the weather started getting cold, the terminal connections would get bad and do the same thing (combination of crap build up and shrinking with the cold weather).   Every fall I used to take them   off and run some steel wool or sand paper thru the holes and posts get a good connection and use some vasoline to protect them them from corrosion.   After that I never had any problems.   It acted as the battery was dead, just like yours sounds.  Like Chryco said, the grounds could be trouble too.
Title: Re: Hard starting
Post by: Charger4404spd on December 06, 2005, 07:55:21 PM
Quote from: Chryco Psycho on December 06, 2005, 02:26:45 AM
start checking the ground connections & the battery cables

:iagree:    or the starter. How did you test the starter? If you tested it without a load, that doesnt mean its ok.
Title: Re: Hard starting
Post by: 'CUDA360 on December 06, 2005, 11:02:18 PM
I had the guy at Checker check it and his computer said it was OK    :-\
Title: Re: Hard starting
Post by: monty76 on December 07, 2005, 07:42:41 AM
What size battery are you running?
Title: Re: Hard starting
Post by: 'CUDA360 on December 07, 2005, 12:25:41 PM
a brand new optima red