Converted 74 Duster to auomatic on the floor, and now won't start. HELP!!?

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Gold Duster #1

Gold Duster #1

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I recently changed my 1974 Duster over from automatic on the column to automatic on the floor. I already changed the shifter and steering column over, and when I go to start the car, it didn't turn over. The dome light comes on, but none of the dash lights come on. The only difference in the wiring harness from the old steering column and new one is there is a single yellow wire separate from the 2 plugs. Can someone, anyone help?
 
Probably the neutral safety lock out! Check out the wiring diagram for your car and trace it back to the starter solenoid. Then jump that terminal to ground and if it starts, bingo! Then find the wire from the safety switch on the transmission and make sure it gets back to the solenoid. Your shifter linkage does engage the neutral safety switch- right?

If you don't have a manual, go here for a free downloadable service manual. MyMopar - Mopar Forums & Information - Service Manuals
 
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The above What years is the column swap out of? There were differences. ALSO you need to bypass the INTERLOCK for the seat belts. Find the interlock reset box under the hood.....looks like a horn relay with a push button, and permanently connect the two yellow wires in that connector
 
The new column is out of a 73 Dart. The funny thing is, I went and unplugged both plugs on the steering column, plugged them back in and the car started several times without a problem. It does, however, still starts while in gear. Now what??
 
check the connection on your neutral safety switch on the Transmission, you might have it on backwards!
 
Gold Duster #1 said:
The new column is out of a 73 Dart. The funny thing is, I went and unplugged both plugs on the steering column, plugged them back in and the car started several times without a problem. It does, however, still starts while in gear. Now what??
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Make sure your in park or neutral when you start it. Mine hasn't had a safety switch on it since I bought it, haven't had any issues because of it.
 
d1970 said:
check the connection on your neutral safety switch on the Transmission, you might have it on backwards!
Click to expand...

You can't put the connector on backwards. Or to put it another way, if you put it on backwards, it would still work. The NSS is the center pin, the backup lamps are the two outer pins.
 
QUOTE="Gold Duster #1, post: 1971251168, member: 42444"]The new column is out of a 73 Dart. The funny thing is, I went and unplugged both plugs on the steering column, plugged them back in and the car started several times without a problem. It does, however, still starts while in gear. Now what??[/QUOTE]

I'd say the linkage is not adjusted correctly. Hold the key to start, wiggle the shifter from park to neutral and see if the start function comes and goes


72Duster440 said:
Make sure your in park or neutral when you start it. Mine hasn't had a safety switch on it since I bought it, haven't had any issues because of it.
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I don't know why you would run a car without neutral safety. It's there for a reason.
 
67Dart273 said:
You can't put the connector on backwards. Or to put it another way, if you put it on backwards, it would still work. The NSS is the center pin, the backup lamps are the two outer pins.
Click to expand...

I think you may have saved the day!! If the NSS is the center pin on the steering column plug, that would explain why my car starts in gear. That particular barrel connector pulled free out of the steering column plug and had been rewired with a different connector, and I couldn't figure out where that wire was suppose to go. I can't wait to get home and rewire a new barrel connector and see if that works. Thank you very much!!
 
NSS switch only provides ground to the G Terminal on the Starter Relay Switch.....
 
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