Troubleshooting slow cranking 70 dart

[maldridgeks]

Hello everyone,

I’m troubleshooting a slow cranking issue with my 70 dart. Car has a 1979 360 in it. Battery is good. I suspect starter is failing. Noticed the stater relay is not grounded securely to car (loose bolts). I will address the loose bolts regardless but wondered if the relay needs that to be a good ground or not? Thank you.

Ps - assuming starter is bad, what is the best replacement I can get? Car does have headers on it.

 

[abodyjoe]

Ps - assuming starter is bad, what is the best replacement I can get? Car does have headers on it.

what i run...

Napa

244-6415

 

[niceolddart]

Relay should be grounded well. I ran an extra ground strap from one of the relay attachment bolts to a known good ground. A good starter at a modest price, is one that also fits the first & second gen Dakotas, V8 or V6, it doesn't matter. Rock Auto or any auto parts store should have one. Buy a new one, not rebuilt & a trusted brand. A/C Delco, NAPA or Remy come to mind.

 

[Hellrats]

A lot of guessing going on here. How about checking the cables first? Are you sure you have a GOOD ground from the frame to the engine? Did you load test the battery? Not saying it couldn't be the starter but why not check it out first. Yes the relay need a good ground as well.

 

[nm9stheham]

The original starter relay in a standard wired Dart for 1970 gets the ground side to the relay coil through either the neutral start switch for an automatic trans car or the clutch switch for a manual trans car. So for the original starting relay of this year, no ground at the mount is used.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

go to auto zone and get a lifetime 1993 dodge ram 360 mini starter. it will come with the adapter for the wires to fit properly. some of them come with one larger hole make sure you get the bushing if it does.

 

[RustyRatRod]

 

[Bewy]

Was it always slow? Or just started? The ' good' battery. How old is it & what voltage does it measure?

 

[maldridgeks]

I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and guidance. I did load test the battery. And the car which I’ve owned for about six months has occasionally been slow to crank but I speculated it was due to heat soak from the headers as it usually was fine during a cold start. Recently has changed and now slow even on cold start.

 

[crackedback]

diagnosis...

Jumper cable from battery neg to block. Does it start easier?

Add another run from bat + to starter cable post. If you can get a jump cable on it, great. Start easier?

Rule out the cables pretty quick provided a good battery is in place that one.

 

[maldridgeks]

diagnosis...

Jumper cable from battery neg to block. Does it start easier?

Add another run from bat + to starter cable post. If you can get a jump cable on it, great. Start easier?

Rule out the cables pretty quick provided a good battery is in place that one.

Thank you. Will give this a try.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and guidance. I did load test the battery. And the car which I’ve owned for about six months has occasionally been slow to crank but I speculated it was due to heat soak from the headers as it usually was fine during a cold start. Recently has changed and now slow even on cold start.

Load testers are also used to test the starter load as well.

 

[440swap70duster]

its the cables or the starter