Sorry for the forth coming elementary question.
I got over 3,000 hits on my keyword search (wont start) and do have to shave and bath at some point in the next month.

Anyway, my 73 dart swinger, 198, automatic, has an intermittent start.

2 new starters, new cables, new Optima red top, new ballast, new chrome relay switch by the battery and the seat belt safety switch is unplugged.
And this is all i know to do

Is the distributer next?
thanks

_________________
63 dart vert /6
73 swinger /6
88 ramcharger318 tbi
waiting for something w/a big block

Well, first check for spark. Pull aplug wire and hold it 1/4 of an inch away from the valve cover. Have a friend crank the engine (or use a remote start switch) and see if you get spark. If so, look elsewhere. If no spark, it sounds like th eonly thing left is to check the pickup in the distributor and check the ignition switch. It might also be the coil.

Will do, thanks

_________________
63 dart vert /6
73 swinger /6
88 ramcharger318 tbi
waiting for something w/a big block

"Won't start" can mean many things. Will it crank at a reasonably decent cranking speed? Does it crank endlessly without firing? Does it crank and fire, but refuse to stay running? Does it not crank at all?

Systematic diagnosis will get the problem identified so you can fix it. Randomly throwing parts at the problem gets expensive in a hurry.

You need fuel, air, compression, correctly-timed spark and correctly-timed valves for the engine to run. Lack of any one or more of those things will prevent the engine starting.

If you can give us a little more information on your won't-start situation (when did it appear? Suddenly, or has the engine been getting harder to start for awhile now? Exact description of situation, see above), we can help get you pointed in the right direction.

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

Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Yes throwing parts at it is expensive. But, the starter, ballast and neg cable were all original. So that didn't hurt to much.

Problem started about 3 months ago out of nowhere.
it does nothing when it wont start. I tried this morning, nothing, no crank, no click, nothing.
my wife just came in from starting it. very baffling.

_________________
63 dart vert /6
73 swinger /6
88 ramcharger318 tbi
waiting for something w/a big block

Three words:

Neutral Safety Switch.

Try jiggling the gearshift next time it acts up. Bet it starts.

D/W

_________________

If it ain't broke, fix it!

OK, you've got a no-crank situation. The Neutral Safety Switch is a good candidate. So is the starter relay, and the ignition/starter switch. Do you have a volt-ohmmeter or digital multimeter? If so, diagnosis will be fairly easy.

Hope you kept the original starter rather than trading it in as a "core"...the remanufactured starters you buy at the parts store are generally of poor quality and durability.

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