1985 Lebaron GTS wont crank? W/pic

[Bodar]

I recieved this car for free from my uncle, it has a rebuilt motor and trans with only 5000k on it. one day the car just died and never started again. i took it home and started working on it. It cranked no problem when i first got it. poured a little gas down the carb and it started right up no problem. So i dropped the fuel tank and replaced the fuel pump with one out of the wreckers. got the tank all in and wired up, pump works great. Fuel through the lines. Now it wont turn over. the whole car turns on when the key is turned, but the starter wont engage!! So then i thought a relay or i fried the starter. Went back to the wreckers and got a few of the three relays. tried them all and all led to the same problem. Starter wont engage. so i jumped the wire to the starter and it turns over no problem. The starter is fine it just wont work off the key. If anyone could please give me some advise i would be so happy. No forum anywhere can give me any type of advise it seems. I only got one pic, and ill use it lure people into looking at this thread. It is literally rust free. great condition.

[ol"blue]

I say you've got a bad starter relay.

[Bodar]

so u mean the one in the car is bad and the other 3 out of 3 diffrent cars from the wreckers are all bad? what would the odds be?

[moparfwdsleeper]

What state are you in, I like the car

starter relay would be my guess, maybe a bad connection?

[Bodar]

Im in canada. and i would like the car if it would run. lol, im ready to smash it. starter relay, i will go buy a brand new one tomoro and see what happens.... any other advise. what do u mean bad connection? like from the ignition to the relay?

[moparfwdsleeper]

from the battery to the starter solenoid, that is what I meant, but that doesnt make sense now... Canada is a long drive for me, so i'll let you keep her I need to go pick up an 87 Shadow ES anyways

[Bodar]

If i jump a wire to the starter she works no problem. im going to get a brand new relay if i can find one. and see what happens.

[Screamin4banger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodar poured a little gas down the carb and it started right up no problem.

wasn't the GTS a turbo? a draw-thru turbo?

Does it really have a carb on it? I don't think it should.

I'm picturing you pouring gas into the throttle-body and half filling your turbo's compressor housing.

That's awesome!

I needed something funny to think about.


BTW, its possible you got problems with wiring in your column or a flaky ignition switch if the new relay doesn't help.

I could post a diagram if you need it

[Shadow24V]

if its a 5-speed, check your clutch engage switch inside the cab, ive been having issues with mine lately. kills the power to the starter if the clutch isnt depressed.

[Bodar]

Its not a stick, and the turbo thing...... lol, this car is weird. It was a turbo, it has a turbo delete on it. and ya i know i put it down the TBI, lol. dont ask me why the turbo was taken off. i have all the reciepts to the rebuild for the motor and trans. and for a brandnew turbo. but it is not there. all the hookups have been changed out for it to run without a turbo. Ya , i know i have no idea why or how this is done......

[Bodar]

oh and yes please post that diagram....

i could be at work right now. but i roasted the clutch out of my bush buggy and this car wont run. help!!

[looneytuner]

I'm flying in the dark here. Neutral safety switch on transmission. Play with the selector while turning the key to start. Also a brown ground wire to the top of the transmission. check this site for the wires to the relay on the fender. MiniMopar Resources


can you hear the fuel pump prime for a second when you turn the key to on?

[Bodar]

Ya fuel pump is working fine. Im not stranger to mechanics. I work on my 4x4 all the time. But its a 4runner, so this car is quite diffrent from what im used to. Clearance mainly, i cant just crawl under, i gotta jack it up. lol, Its a pain. also ive never worked on any dodge before. Then the whole its a turbo, but yet its not. with a fuel injected carb? lol i was an still am mostly confused about this thing. i dont really know where to begin. which is why i started at the fuel pump. It is unfortunate as the car is in great shape and i have seen it run.

[Bodar]

also how many amps are the alts in these stock?? I just wanna say that you guys have been way more help than any other site yet....

[kermit]

Are you getting power to throw the relay when you turn the key.

If it's like every other relay...you should have constant power to one side of the relay and a wire that goes to the starter. Then a ground wire and a wire from the starter switch. Run a test light from the starter switch to the ground. If that doesn't light, try from the starter switch wire to another ground to see if the relay is getting grounded.

If it still doesn't work, then you obviously have a problem with the signal coming from the switch. (You did check fuses right?)