i have a 1985 dodge d100 pick up that will not start.when i try to start it,does nothing.the starter and battery are good.i replaced the starter relay and the ignition switch but it did not help.the wire from the battery to the relay is hot.no currant is going from the relay to the ignition switch or the starter. thanks for any help with this problem

s65fury@aol.com

1) Do you hear a click when you turn the key? If not, there is no power going to the relay or the relay is not grounded (see 2).

2) Check the "ground" wire on the relay. This goes to the transmission if you have an automatic. Ground it with a clip lead and retest. If it works, the module in the trans is bad.

Get back to us after the tests.

Chuck

webmaster@omnipages.com

Will the starter crank the engine if you connect (jump) the two wires leading into it? (bridge the air gap with any hunk of metal, like a screw driver or the head of the dip stick)
DD

the starter will turn the motor when i jump the relay but it will not start .

s65fury@aol.com

Do you hear a click when you turn the key?
this truck has a manual transmission. there is no sound when i try to start it. there is a ground wire bolted to the inner fender. the starter relay is new.is there a test i can try on the relay to see if it is good.

s65fury@aol.com

I sounds to me like the fusable link is shorting out. I may be burned out or shorting at the connections. You can buy a roll of wire from NAPA to make a new one for $5.

Jon


JON_BLANEY@URI.EDU

So, if I read this right, nothing happens when you use the key, everything is dead?
(if you leave the key "on" and jump the starter the engines turns over but will not start)

If all this is true, sounds like a fuseable link or some other "short" that prevents power from getting to the ignition switch.
It's test light & schamatic time.
DD

How about the clutch safety switch? Manual trans vehicles use it, instead of a neutral safety switch. The engine will not crank without depressing the clutch pedal.
Charrlie_S

flturbo6@aol.com

There is a wire to the firewall connector from the relay which goes to the ignition switch. It probably is not getting power. See if you can identify this wire, then jump the + side of the battery to the terminal on the relay. That should kick in the relay.

As Doug said, check for a fusable link, usually a red wire from the starter relay to the firewall connector. Test it with a test light or voltmeter. You should see 12 volts on both sides of the wire. If this is out, you probably don't have radio & heater blower power either. If everything in the vehicle is "dead" then this is the most likely problem. If you can get to the back of the ignition switch (or pull it out) check for power there. I'll bet there is none.

Chuck


webmaster@omnipages.com

I seem to recal that the relay on a manual trans. has the "ground" lead already connected to the case. If not, see where it goes. If you find a wire from the relay heading down under the car it may go to a safety switch. You can ground this terminal to the frame to bypass the switch for testing.

Chuck


webmaster@omnipages.com

Have you tried to replace the starter relay or strter c=silonoid?

moparmnky@aol.com

i found a wire burnt into. after repairing it i was able to get the motor to turn over.it still will not start .i checked my coil to see if i was getting current there.i connected a multi meter to the plus side of the coil .the meter read zero.i pulled the coil wire from the distributor cranked the motor but did not get any spark.thanks for all the help .

s65fury@aol.com

You will need to disconnect the wire from the coil to the dist. (points wire) and then test the + side of the coil (from the resistor) for voltage. If you leave the points connected and they are closed, you will probably get a very low reading on the + side of the coil. If you get voltage after the above test, then try shorting the - side of the coil to ground while holding the coil output wire near ground. You should get a spark. If not, something is wrong with the coil or the resistor.

Chuck


webmaster@omnipages.com