Re: '64 440 Wagon won't start-was fine yesterday after several test driv

I am going to presume you have a working knowledge of your car so I wont go into great detail. But we can if needed.

First I would clean the battery terminals and try again, to many times I have seen terminals look clean, but you can't see inside, and a lite coat of corrosion will let the lights come on but no crank, especially if its been raining or very humid. Next using a test light hook it to the positive + terminal and confirm your neutral switch is good, by testing the wire for a light lit in park & neutral only, if not replace N / switch. If yes move test light to the negative - terminal, ground, earth or what ever you want to call it. (Safety Warning) "With your car in park" Turn the key to the start position and see if the light is lit on the trip lug of the starter relay. If the light is not lit when you turn the key to the start position, I would check the firewall junction for corroded or toasted connectors. Also now would be a good time to clean all the male & female terminals and coat them with a thin coat of dialectic grease and reassemble. Test again for a light when the key is turned to the start position. If your N/switch is good and test light is lit its probably your starter relay. (Safety Warning) "With your car in park" using an old screwdriver jump your relay to see if it cranks or just clicks. No crank its probably the relay. Let us know what you found, still no crank we will continue from here.

Herb

1954 DeSoto Firedome Estate Wagon 276 HEMI

1956 Plymouth Belvedere 361 4-Sale

1959 Dodge Coronet 326 Poly

1961 Plymouth Belvedere Custom Suburban Wagon 318 Poly

1961 Dodge Dart Pioneer Wagon 318 Poly

1963 Plymouth Fury 2D/HT 7.0L Gen III HEMI

1963 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible 361

1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst 440

1979 Dodge Aspen Sport Wagon 360

1999 Durango SLT 5.9L

2008 SRT-8 Magnum 6.1L

St. Louis, MO.

http://1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/mmo42009.html

http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/mmo22012.html

-------Original Message-------

From: John Hammond

Date: 11/16/2012 11:28:23 PM

To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: '64 440 Wagon won't start-was fine yesterday after several test drives....

I got the '64 440 powered 330 out yesterday and did a few test runs. 727 has a nagging drip so I topped off the fluid and went for a short drive. Nothing really out of the ordinary: although recent night drives seem to tax the electrical so bad it acts as if the ignition is going away. During this, the volt meter, (ammeter long since removed from harness), shows 12+ volts at 55mph or above. All the lights are bright and functioning correctly too. Back to the story, wagon starts at the turn of the key repetedly five or six times, no problem. This afternoon turn the key and not so much as a whine or even a click, volt meter shows 10 volts. So battery must be low, I thought; booster pack hooked up. Volt meter shows 12 volts, again nothing. Finally two batteries from booster cables, same result...dead, dead, dead. Again, no matter the voltage shown on the gauge, 10, 12+, or 14+ everything works except the starter. I don't understand what could have just quit overnight when all was well 24 hours ago. Both the starter and the alternator are new Powermaster parts, the VR is the electronic replacement, the additional charging wire suggested by Powermaster was run, the ignition is the Summit MoparPerf. type electronic conversion, all of these parts have about 1200 miles total on them. The starter relay, is original. The battery is old, and needing replacement I know-but I doubt that being the problem considering the juice poured at it today. I don't really know where to start on this. I thought I had all the bases covered. Anybody that can help out on this would be most appreciated... thanks in advance to any and all who respond.

Always Mopar,

John Hammond

Re: '64 440 Wagon won't start-was fine yesterday after several test drives....