Need some help here-car very rarely starts with the key, only starts when we jump the starter relay. Any suggestions? We changed the relay twice, but still no luck.

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Check the shift linkage adjustment, and the neutral safety switch. Also possible ign sw. You don't say what year, but some mopars had a seatbelt interlock, that prevented starting without the belts fastened.

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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

What he said...
Does it crank, and not start, or is it just dead?

rare300: Are you talking, will not crank, or cranks, but will not start.

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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

1-car is 1970
2-it does nothing when the key is turned, just shows drain on the alt. guage
3-it will start when the key is on, only when jumped
4-tried moving shifter, no change

To me it sounds as if there is a wire shorting somewhere, since your alt. gauge reacts. There has to be juice going somewhere...

For no crank problem, first check to see that you are getting power to the starter solenoid when key is in the crank position. If you have power, then the starter is bad.

If there is no power to the starter solenoid check that you are getting power to the starter relay during the crank position. If there is no power then the switch is bad.

If you are getting power to both the solenoid and relay then check to see if the starter relay has a ground. If there is no ground it is the neutral safety switch.

If you have power to the relay from the switch and ground to the relay from the neutral safety switch, then the relay is bad. This is unlikely since you already replaced it twice.

Of course, a broken wire or loose connection between any of these points could cause the same symptoms.

Since you can see the alt gauge moving, my first instinct is worn starter brushes.

having same thing on my 74 duster it did have interlock but long since removed.
I have replaced my starter, ign switch, ecu, relay, tested nutral safety switch
Ihave power to starter and relay. I think i got a bad(new) ign switch????
rare 300 let me know what fix you find

Got the same or a similar problem... I have a 74' Duster and for the most of times I had to start it by placing the ignition switch in the start position and jumping the car by pushing by hand the small piston in the starter solenoid... every time I turned the key, instead of cranking you could only hear a "click"... after checking and re-checking the problem, and not finding something wrong, I kept replacing the solenoid several times until I got myself a recon starter motor with its solenoid... problem solved with under 40 bucks.

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My other car is... another DUSTER!!! .·.

Dont think its the starter, although you can never tell. there is no click or sound of any kind when the key is turned to start. the alternator guage dips, but nothing happens. when the key is left in the on position, and the relay is jumped on the fender, it turns right over. i was thinking about the neutral switch because the reverse lights were staying on when the car was running. my son pulled the bulbs out so the lights wouldnt stay on. maybe thats the prob. will change the neutral switch just because its the only thing left before the starter.

The same thing happened to me, my car would only start if i had the ign. on run and hot wired the starter. I though it was the relay, so I spent 17$ for a new one, after I put it on nothing changed. It turned out that the 2 wires from the battery to the starter were not making contact. So I got some washers and nuts and tightend them down good. Then I went and got my 17$ back for that relay and put it in my Paint/wheel fund.

Sounds like the neutral safty switch. I once had the exact same problem with my late '70 Fury.

Thanx to all for your input and help. Yes indeed it was the neutral switch, changed it and voila! It started right up!! Hope we can get to see everyone this year at a Carlisle with our own slant six section! It sure would be great!

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