Help! Lost my key, can I jump start the Dart?

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timbolia

timbolia

65Wagon
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So, I lost my only key somewhere last night. Just got a call from my wife and her van got towed, and she has 6 kids with her on a feild trip in Downtown LA. How can I get my car started so we have at least one vehicle running?
 
i think you can run power to coil and jump at starter relay. but remember to remove power wire when car is not running
 
Take a piece of wire and attach it from the positive side of the battery to the ballast resister. Then take a screw driver and cross the two posts on the starter relay. The engine will run till you pull the jumper wire.
 
That will fire the engine up ,but likely not give you any accessory circut power for wipers, radio,turn signals etc. ignition switch comes out easily and simple to figger out which wires need to be jumpered.Unplug switch and find hot power slot. 1 jumper for ignition, 1 to acc. and 1 for momentary kick to starter.
 
Brad4406 said:
Take a piece of wire and attach it from the positive side of the battery to the ballast resister. Then take a screw driver and cross the two posts on the starter relay. The engine will run till you pull the jumper wire.
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Would you need to tie in on the coil side to not fry the ballast?
 
Remove ignition switch from dash, remove lock cylinder from switch, reinstall switch, use anything that will turn switch as "key".

Have lock cylinder re-keyed, buy spare key and magnetic key keep, place key keep in air cleaner housing or some such place.
 
I vote for removing the ignition switch in this case. Anemergency situation would do the jumper.
 
My old 69 dart 340 if you unplug ignition switch it told you how to hot wire Bat ign start on inside. so called friend new this and took car for joy ride.
 
daredevil said:
Would you need to tie in on the coil side to not fry the ballast?
Click to expand...

D Cluley said:
Nope, bypassing the ballast like that would probably fry the coil. That's what the ballast resistor is for.
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i agree , the ballast is there to protect the coil...


battery to the ballast will work and then start it with the starter relay..
 
D Cluley said:
Nope, bypassing the ballast like that would probably fry the coil. That's what the ballast resistor is for.
Click to expand...

Actually, the Ballast resistor is there to keep the points from burning, not to protect the coil. The starter circuit by passes the ballast until you release the key to the run position. That is why when a ballast goes bad, the car will start and then quit as soon as you let the key return to run. GM used a resistor wire to the points and didn't need a ballast resistor.

A jumper wire from the battery to the batt side of the coil and shorting the two terminals of the ignition relay monentarily will start the car. Just remove the wire to the coil to shut it off. Don't run it that way all of the time or your points will not last too long.

Mike
 
Actually if you run full voltage to the coil and keep it on for any length of time it will overheat the coil and will eventually stop working (probably within one hour). I've tried it and barely got my car home after the ballast resistor opened up.
 
3404speed said:
I vote for removing the ignition switch in this case. Anemergency situation would do the jumper.
Click to expand...

X2 jumping power to the positive side of the ballast resistor NOT the coil (will fry coil) will make the car run but it wont charge due to no power being feed to alternator
 
mjdcwo said:
Actually, the Ballast resistor is there to keep the points from burning, not to protect the coil. The starter circuit by passes the ballast until you release the key to the run position. That is why when a ballast goes bad, the car will start and then quit as soon as you let the key return to run. GM used a resistor wire to the points and didn't need a ballast resistor.

A jumper wire from the battery to the batt side of the coil and shorting the two terminals of the ignition relay monentarily will start the car. Just remove the wire to the coil to shut it off. Don't run it that way all of the time or your points will not last too long.

Mike
Click to expand...


ummmmm, then why do electronic ign cars have a ballast? its to protect the coil man..
 
So I called a locksmith, and this idiot shows up stoned, wants $240 and works for 2 hours and can't do it. I Ordered a new switch with 2 keys for $18 and drove it into work today. Hey Dreno, are Canadian locksmiths different than the ones in the states? I have called 3 in my 44 years and none of them were in the least bit competent.
 
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