Starter motor wont catch & turn the engine

raven68 · Post by **raven68** » Sun Nov 08, 15 7:21 pm

Annoying problem with the 68 Charger which I think is just a weak starter motor..... You can sit there for ages firing the starter and it just flies out an spins back: it doesn't catch and crank the engine over...... When it does eventually catch, the motor pretty much fires within 2 secs so its nothing wrong with the engine/flywheel

I can only think its a weak starter motor that's not strong enough to keep bendix gear engaged long enough...... ??

Anyone had a similar issue / experience and got the definitive answer

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sun Nov 08, 15 7:32 pm

Is it an original full sized one or a replacement mini-starter?

The originals are huge and not that great and it has probably had a lot of service. Some Mini's have had issues with lack of greasing from the factory and have been known to stick.

However, it may be worth checking Earth leads fist - maybe even adding extra ones, and also checking condition of all the connections. I assume the battery is in good and charged condition.....

raven68 · Post by **raven68** » Sun Nov 08, 15 8:42 pm

Its an original full size one and as you say well used I think.

New battery was fitted by the US dealer and I have fully charged it up since it arrived, but I will check over the leads - good point, thanks

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Sun Nov 08, 15 9:54 pm

Fit a mini starter for £136 you can't go wrong. I liked the quaint screech of my old 340 starter until it stopped starting. The minis are a whole new experience; like a modern car.

raven68 · Post by **raven68** » Mon Nov 09, 15 7:46 am

MilesnMiles wrote:Fit a mini starter for £136 you can't go wrong. I liked the quaint screech of my old 340 starter until it stopped starting. The minis are a whole new experience; like a modern car.

I've fitted the mini starters to a couple of Ford 289's in the past and they do make a difference for sure. What unit / where did you get yours as a matter of interest

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Mon Nov 09, 15 7:55 am

Mine was from Phoenix-Marine on eBay for £136
I think it's the standard starter for most of the Dodge Dakotas and similar.
Fits perfectly and works really well.

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Mon Nov 09, 15 1:37 pm

MilesnMiles wrote:Mine was from Phoenix-Marine on eBay for £136
I think it's the standard starter for most of the Dodge Dakotas and similar.
Fits perfectly and works really well.

x2......same on mine and still going well!!

mad machs · Post by **mad machs** » Mon Nov 09, 15 2:00 pm

Easy job, but be aware of a spare terminal block, usually hidden in the bottom of the box, to make the correct angle for the cables for some applications.

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Mon Nov 09, 15 3:04 pm

sounds like a current flow issue or a starter solenoid issue (burnt contacts)

does the + lead from the battery or the earth strap get hot.

suggest if it starts the car even if for just 2 seconds turning when it works it works ok

so starter solenoid more likely due to intermittent nature.

if your motor had dead spots or was full of broken up brushes it wouldn't spin. would suggest a whack with a hammer would assist with that until you can get it rebuilt.

massive resistance in either battery cable/connector or between the block and the earth strap to chassis tends to be there all the time and generally just gets worse the more you try to start due to the heat generated.

if your battery connectors are bolt on aftermarket jobbies. not crimped and soldered lik orginal i.e bolted onto the end of the fat wires, its worth checking that they bolt down to nice clean copper not green powder.

the other thing that causes intermittent starting is oil in the starter

either from a rear main seal, transmission front bearings/seal or running down from the rocker tins and into the bellhousing. if it gets into the motor it turns the brushes to a wet graphite paste (much like grease) which clogs up the commutator causing dead spots.

if you swap to a new motor make sure you get a starter motor shim

this is a flat plate shaped to the nose of the starter that seals the hole around the starter in the block flange and bellhousing from road dirt water and oil leaks

rick Ehrrenberg (ricks mopars on ebay) does them for the mini starters

Dave

raven68 · Post by **raven68** » Sat Nov 14, 15 7:15 am

Dave - its none of them issues although they all cause problems I know. The starter works everytime - it just flies out, whacks the flywheel and hasn't got enough guts to stay engaged and turn the engine until the 30th turn of the key when it may catch......

Anyway we swopped out the starter from the Challenger yesterday, stuck it in the Charger and everything was solved. Normal engagement, engine cranked and fired every time....... Time to get a new starter motor....

And in the process I will renew all the main leads as well.........

Thanks for all the comments and options guys.....