Re: IML: 62 no start condition

["mike and linda sutton" <mikanlin62@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

As with any Mopar of the 60's and 70's, check the starter relay first. 
Actually, I prefer to turn the headlights on and then try the starter..if 
the lights dim noticeably then youre getting current to the starter.  If the 
lights barely change or dont change at all in brightness, then there is no 
current getting to the starter.  Reason being, the starter is a very large 
current draw and with a battery in good shape you will see the lights dim 
noticeably if you crank an engine while the headlights are on.

To check the starter relay, find the small metal box, usually a golden or 
copper color with generally 4 wires going to it.  One will be a very large 
wire the same approximate size as the battery cable, one will be about 
pencil size and two will be much smaller.  The two largest wires carry 
current to the starter, the larger is for the actual starter motor current 
and the one thats a bit smaller is for the solenoid.  IF the starter relay 
is bad thereare a couple scenarios, one is that there  wont be any current 
to the solenoid and the solenoid wont engage and the motor wont turn over, 
the other is that the relay itself may buzz slightly or click, depending on 
what actually failed.  If the relay is ok but the solenoid is bad you might 
get a noticeable click from the solenoid or nothing at all.

How to check the starter relay:  Make sure the car is in N or P, make sure 
the park brake is applied. ( I add this because of the possibility of a bad 
neutral safety switch and the prospect of having nobody behind the wheel ) 
Make sure the key is OFF.  Now, take a screwdriver or other suitable 
insulated tool with an insulated handle - preferably one that you dont mind 
getting some arcing on the tip of - and MOMENTARILY, touch it across the two 
largest terminals on the starter relay.  IF the starter cranks the engine 
over, the starter is ok.  What you are doing is bypassing the relay itself 
and verifying the starter motor itself.

The other possibility, theres no current going to the relay from the 
ignition switch, which is usually the small yellow wire to the relay.  You 
can check that with a test light or voltmeter and you should see battery 
voltage at that wire when you turn the key to start.  You may also have a 
bad neutral safety switch, which is a ground for the relay and is usually 
the small brown wire to the relay.  You can take a short jumper lead and 
remove the brown wire and clip that terminal to any good ground and then try 
the key.  Warning:  Bypassing the neutral safety switch means your car can 
and will start in any gear.  If you take the neutral switch terminal to 
ground and then try the key and the starter cranks, look at the neutral 
switch next.

Hope this helps....the FSM also goes thru this as I recall, but what Ive 
posted here is basic Mopar 101 and is pretty much applicable to any Chrysler 
product from 62 to ....the 80s?... with an automatic trans.

Mikey
62 Crown Coupe 


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