Hi Everyone,

I thought I had my '71 Charger all sorted out, and then today it wouldn't shut off unless I removed the negative battery cable. It would just continue to run even with the key off (like dieseling running, not running-running). As soon as I touch the negative battery cable to the post, it starts to crank but doesn't start. If I turn the the key, it will resume running normally.

I am guessing it's the ignition switch, does that seem right? Anything else to look for?

Also, will an ignition switch for a tilt-wheel car work for a non-tilt wheel? Nobody seems to have the non-tilt ones in stock.

I have a love-hate relationship with this car, that was trending back toward love until this morning....

Thanks.

Greg

Before you go yanking the ignition switch check the wires going to the starter, look for any shorts, check the starter solenoid mounted on the inner driver's fender, work your way to the ignition switch....use a meter to check voltage or lack of, as well as continuity.....

Just unplug the switch at the column connector and see what it does. If it acts the same its not the switch. 10 second test.

I disconnected the two big connectors (7 or 8 wires each) of wires under the dash coming out of the column, and that made no difference if one of those was the right one to disconnect. Is that what you were talking about NITROUSN?

It is sort of acting like the ignition switch is stuck in the run position or something. When I connect the neg. battery cable and it starts to turn over, I just need to move the key to "run" (don't need to go to "start") and the motor runs normally.

I also disconnected all the wires going to relay, and that made no difference.

Thanks for any continued help.

Greg

Yes. Now unplug the two small wires on the relay and see what it does.

Okay thank you.

I disconnected the two small wires at the bottom the relay (blade style connecters) and it does the same thing, starts cranking over as soon as the neg cable hits the post.

Is it the starter do you think?

The other symptom that I didn't mention is a whining type sound that I had never heard before that was coming from the engine compartment when the motor is running normally. I didn't know if it was related or not, but I wonder if it's the starter continuing to spin while the motor is running?

What up Greg ? How are you ?
What kind of starter do you have ?
Hit it with a hammer !
Chances are solenoid stuck in it .
When you're done loving& Hating car , call me !
Id like a 71 Charger!

Hi Andy!

I think it's just a cheapo mini-starter for a '91 Dakota or whatever. I am not sure how old it is, not super old but not super new either.

If you catch me at the right time, like this morning, you could probably buy it off me for a $1!

Now unscrew the smaller connector and take the wire loose. Check for voltage at the relays terminal. If there is the relay is bad. If there isn't the problem is in the starter.

Okay, so with both under column connectors disconnected, and three wires removed from the relay (the bottom two and the middle one), there is voltage at the post at the top (which still has two wires connected to it, one going to the battery and one going back toward the firewall) and no voltage anywhere else (at the other 3 terminals).

So it's looking like the starter, correct?

With all disconnected and putting the battery cables on does it still crank? If so starter has issues.

Correct, as it sits right now with all that stuff disconnected, it cranks as soon as I connect the neg battery cable. Looks like I will be trying a new starter.

Thank you so much for helping me through this, it is much appreciated. I am more hack than mechanic, it is a struggle sometimes.

Greg

The starter has solenoid contacts that are most likely stuck together. Low battery voltage can cause that.

like NITRO said, that starter has contacts that are most likely stuck.
those are easily replaced, and [at least around here] are only about 10 bucks at the VERY most, usually 5-6.

My 71 Superbee would do this very thing on occasion

Kept going thru starter relays

Replaced ignition switch

Car would start , starter would stay engaged

Key off , starter still engaged cranking over

Factory hood pins sure didn’t help getting to the battery


The reproduction positive battery cable going down to the starter
You have the main positive cable off the positive side of battery
Then wrapped next to that is the starter relay cable

Here , under the black wrapping , the two wire cables where rubbing against the factory cable bracket mounted on the frame

Dead short

The factory starter cable bracket had lost its rubber protection over the two prongs , and eventually rubbed thru the insulation protecting the positive cables creating a short that you couldn’t see from the front side until I removed the starter , then that positive cable , and started working myself backwards

Simple but very frustrating , especially at car shows

My bet is the wires at the starter itself have rotated and are touching each other.
Doug

Yep, you nailed it, and I think the guy above you was saying the same thing.

In the process of all of this, it fried a wire under the dash, apparently the wire that controls the whole car starting, ignition firing, etc. Once I got that fixed, I was back in business.

Thanks for all of the help.

Greg

Ha ha, yes, thanks for fixing that, maybe "back in love, for now anyway" would be even more accurate.

Similar thing happened to me driving home in a Big Thunderstorm from Syracuse Nationals. Went through a construction zone and slow traffic caused my car to start to overheat. Then after construction, there was a decline in the road so I put it in neutral to get it cooled down quicker. Then my starter started running while my car was coasting. Had to pull over and get the negative cable off the battery to get it to stop. while waiting for a tow truck, I decided to hook it back up and it started and went back to normal and made it how. The next day the starter was shot. Not sure what caused the initial problem (maybe heat related), but it gave me one last start to get home. Had to have something to do with the wiring or contacts of the starter.