Short version of the events leading up to this question is that I pulled the motor to clean and paint it and put new bearings and an oil pump in while it was out.

Everything is back together and all the wires, grounds, hoses and fluids are accounted for and in their correct positions. The battery is a known good battery(out of my running truck). I can turn the motor over by jumping the starter terminals(did this to make sure I got oil pressure) and it turns over fine. When I use the ignition key to try to start the car, all I hear is a loud click that sounds like it is coming from under the dash near the passenger side of the car. What could it be?

I am hoping to get the car running so I can start driving it instead of my gas guzzling truck.

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69 valiant

Starter relay is making the click. The relay itself is under the hood, either on the driver's side of the the firewall, or on the driver's side inner fender not far from the battery. The click means the relay is operating, but it's not passing current (or not passing enough current) to the starter solenoid. To diagnose, connect the two largest terminals on the relay with a screwdriver (just as you did on the starter itself). If the starter cranks, then the relay is definitely dead; replace it. If the starter doesn't crank, then either the relay is dead or the wire from the relay to the starter's small terminal is faulty.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Thanks Dan. I jumped the two terminals at the relay and it turns over fine. What do I ask for at the parts store, i.e., what is the relay called?

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69 valiant

"Starter relay".

Standard/Bluestreak SR105 or NAPA Echlin SR5 with automatic transmission, SR106 or SR6 with manual transmission.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I replaced the starter relay but it did not fix the problem. With the new relay, I can still turn the motor over by jumping the starter or the relay. When I try to crank with the key, the clicking is definately coming from under the dash. I might be crazy for guessing this, but the sound seems to come from the same place that a buzzer sounds when the head lights are turned on with the key in the ignition.

The only other piece of info that might help is that I swapped in a manual steering column from a 68 or 69 dart, but there was not anything odd about the wiring or swap.

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69 valiant

1) Does your horn work?

2) Put a voltmeter or 12v test light across the two small wires connected to the starter relay. When you turn the key to "start", the voltmeter should register battery voltage or the test light should illuminate. If not, there's something the matter with the wiring.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

If this ia a column shift automatic, check the shift linkage adjustment. The neutral safety switch might be out of adjustment.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

One more thing I did not mention - sorry. The three pronged plug that goes into the back of the tranny is not plugged in. I accidentally broke off one of the prongs while trying to straighten it out. What is that plug(I am thinking backup light switch and possibly nuetral safety) and could it cause what I am experiencing?

Charlie - Is the nuetral safety switch on the column?

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69 valiant

The plug is for the neutral safety switch and the backup lights. It must be pluged in. The switch is in the tranny not on the column, but my thought was when you changed the column, you got the linkage out of adjustment. Connecting the swich should cure the problem.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Great - that does make sense. I was worried about the switch not being connected, but did not put two and two together - and to think I get paid to be an analyst!!!

edit: Can I jump the switch plug? Which wires do I jump since there are three?

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69 valiant

The easiest way to get around this is to run a ground wire for the starter relay. This is what the three pronged switch on the trans does. There should be a small diameter brown wire that plugs to the relay, remove it and run a wire from the terminal on the relay to a ground. you could also do this back at the pigtail for the switch on the trans but I am not sure if the color changes on the wire by the time it gets back there.


So on the relay you have the two wires that you jumped to cross it over, then there should be a yellow wire, then the small brown wire I am talking about. Remove the brown wire and run a wire from ground to the terminal that the brown wire came off of.

Jess

Easiest, but far from the safest.
I don't recommend using a jumper, except as a temporary measure. With the jumper installed, the engine can start in gear. Have you ever tried to stop a car heading for another car in your yard/driveway, after you hit the key by reaching thru the window, and you're outside of it, and the engine starts, while in gear? Do it the safe way, repair/replace the switch/connector.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

I hear ya - just wanted a temporary solution until I can get a new switch.

Thank you Jess for the suggestion. I will let everyone know the results. I want to get the car outside under its own power to take some good pics. I think most people will agree its a good looking little valiant.

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69 valiant

It could be a mis-adjusted gear selector , assuming this is an automatic trans car and not a pushbutton (what year ARE we talking about here anyway?). Try the following:

Put your foot on the brake (HARD!)
Turn the key to the "start" position and hold it there
Move the gear selector slowly from "park" through "reverse" and past "Drive"

See if the starter engages somewhere in there other than "Park" and "Neutral."

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I grounded that terminal and it turned over with the key. I took the relay back to Oreilly and got a store credit.

Thanks for the help everyone. I was able to crank it a short while later - woohoo!

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69 valiant