Got a crazy Starting Issue! ........I mean nutz!

-
As soon as I get a little time I will jump back in and do as described.
Thank you all for the comments and suggestions!!
Ill report back what I find.
 
Years ago I was a weapons mech on USAF fighter A/C We had an aircraft (F102) that would run through the missile firing sequence with no one in the aircraft and with the stick grip trigger in our hand(s). It was some what unnerving! The problem was exactly what you are describing, in the aircraft's case it was a short between the firing circuit pin and the ground pin. I'll bet your problem is at the bulkhead with shorted wires.
 
Firewall Bulkhead connector - #1 problem on old mopars. Too much juice going thru the heavy black and red, from the battery and the alternator, and they get moisture in them, corrode over time, cause resistance and heat. Trace the heavy black and red wires to the connectors, disconnect the battery, remove the connector, remove each wire one at a time from the connector, wire brush clean, grease with dielectric grease, reinstall in connector. Bypass any melted wires with new connections in the engine compartment and on the corresponding backside of the harness inside the car.
EVERY old mopar I work on I do this, regardless. Makes a world of difference for reliability sake.
Male connectors can be removed by bending inward slightly to release the barb/hook that captures them. Bend back before reinstalling. Female connectors are trickier, they have a barb/hook on the flat side of the connector - a very thin screwdriver or paper clip can be pried in to bend the barb down. I take a dremel with a wire wheel attachment and shine the connectors up.
 
Thank you.
Currently putting the electrical aside and swaping out the whole front sheet metal to a 69. (getting rid of the beaker nose) Rear will follow at a later date and will also get the 69 treatment.
End plan is to make it look like a 70's Trans Am Race car but for the street. So it will have a Roll bar, stickers, big Air dam in front, wing in rear with side exhaust right in front of back wheels.
No radio, no carpet, ear plugs required!
 
Ok Update.
It was the Bulkhead Connector!!!
I had checked it, wiggled it etc 3 or 4 times
but failed to notice it had come out slightly on the lower left corner. Pushed that in nice N tight and she fired right up!
Has started now 5 times in a row on different days so pretty sure that was it.
Thank you all for the great explanations!
 
Jerry G said:
Ok Update.
It was the Bulkhead Connector!!!
I had checked it, wiggled it etc 3 or 4 times
but failed to notice it had come out slightly on the lower left corner. Pushed that in nice N tight and she fired right up!
Has started now 5 times in a row on different days so pretty sure that was it.
Thank you all for the great explanations!
Click to expand...
Just a suggestion, GET RID OF IT (the bulkhead connector)! If it arcs and shorts out, with the accompanying wiring fire, what have you saved? And trust me, it will arc and short and it will catch fire.
 
Jerry G said:
Ok Update.
It was the Bulkhead Connector!!!
I had checked it, wiggled it etc 3 or 4 times
but failed to notice it had come out slightly on the lower left corner. Pushed that in nice N tight and she fired right up!
Has started now 5 times in a row on different days so pretty sure that was it.
Thank you all for the great explanations!
Click to expand...
Glad to here it, congrats.
 
Is there a replacement fitting that can be installed? Or how do you get rid of it?
Mine are all crappy and I hate electrical fires!!

Scott
retroron said:
Just a suggestion, GET RID OF IT (the bulkhead connector)! If it arcs and shorts out, with the accompanying wiring fire, what have you saved? And trust me, it will arc and short and it will catch fire.
Click to expand...
 
What I did was to remove the two large-gauge (maybe 10 I forget)wires; the red and the black, that go to the ammeter. Then after cleaning and tightening all the others, I drilled holes through the connector in the locations of the now-removed wires. Then I passed a big wire thru each of those holes and spliced the wires back together.
Surprise,surprise, I don't have that hot burning-wire smell anymore when I turn on the headlights,lol.

There are other options
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top