'70 Dart Starting Gremlin

[Oilburner]

Guys I have a really clean/original '70 340 Dart 4 spd with a starting issue. 9 out of 10 times it will start perfectly fine, but that last time it will Only start if you pull the emergency brake?
Mash clutch, will start with shifter in any gear or neutral over and over, then when you least expect it, it won't do anything. Engauge the e-brake & it will fire right up wth?
Also perhaps related but fyi: I am able to rotate the key into the eject position at any time.

 

[RedFish]

There is a switch on the brake pull mechanism with a single wire. Provided ground to the BRAKE warning lamp. I don't know how that can be related but, there is movement under the dash in close proximity to a lot of wiring.
Start signal wire to relay is yellow from switch to bulkhead. Thats all I got

 

[Oilburner]

There is a switch on the brake pull mechanism with a single wire. Provided ground to the BRAKE warning lamp. I don't know how that can be related but, there is movement under the dash in close proximity to a lot of wiring.
Start signal wire to relay is yellow from switch to bulkhead. Thats all I got

Ya I couldn't imagine there is any (planned) relation between the ebrake & cranking but I figured I'd ask. Got to love intermittent electrical issues

 

[Kuz]

My first thought was the neutral safety switch is loose and not moving the necessary amount or not grounding consistently.

You could bypass the NSS for a few days/weeks, see if the problem goes away. Just remember the car will start without depressing the clutch

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Clutch pedal switch is bad the wire came off and is grounding on the e brake rod

 

[str12-340]

Pulling the E-brake moves a big chunk of metal under your dash. If there is a loose connection under the dash (where all the wires for starting are located) the jostling of the brake mechanism could reestablish the loose connection and allow the car to start. Crawl under the dash and have someone else to manipulate the e-brake and see what wires it is catching on and get them out of the way with some zip ties and then make sure the connections are solidly engaged.

 

[nutz]

bad ground ,its using the brake cable as a ground ,just a thought ...seen honda ground trough the throttle cable

 

[67Dart273]

Clutch pedal switch is bad the wire came off and is grounding on the e brake rod

Likely. You can disconnect the switch wire at the start relay and ground it with a pigtail, see if the problem goes away. Frankly I have no use for clutch switches.

 

[jos51700]

Clutch pedal switch is bad the wire came off and is grounding on the e brake rod

bad ground ,its using the brake cable as a ground ,just a thought ...seen honda ground trough the throttle cable

This, and this, or if it's like my car was, the wires are all melted together at the bulkhead. Take the bulkhead connectors apart, if they're not melted together, and inspect for hot melty wire.

If they're melted together... That's a clue.

 

[nutz]

Check battery ground cable at engine and body...