Mopar Muscle Association UK

After being away for a few weeks over the NEWYEAR i went to start my 68 DODGE CORONET. At first it turned over a couple of times then started i left it running for about 15mins. About a hour later i tried to start the car again it turned over a couple of times then cut off and just the noise of the starter was heared.Turned the ignition again and just the noise of the starter cutting off straight away,even without the engine turning.After a few more attempts the car started and ran ok .I had the same problem a couple of months ago,then it was alright till now.The car has not been driven on the road since the end of September but is kept inside a dry barn and started and moved most weekends. Could the fault be on the starter side. Any information or advice would be great.

Have you got headers fitted? If so, I bet it's got hot...in my humble opinion of course

Make sure the battery terminals are very clean and tight.....

Starter motors certainly seem to fe the fault to have 'du jour'!

It can be any of a number of things - if possible, when the car is cold, try bypassing everything and put the battery (ie neg to the body, pos to the big terminal) straight to the starter motor (only for a short time!) then at least you know if there's a physical failt with the starter or if it's a wiring thing.

Thanks for the information the dodge has still got its original manifolds and doesn,t run headers, the other suggestions i will check this afternoon.Electrical problem seems to be the way to look, but an intermitent fault is a pain in the arse to find. I just think the car needs a good run but the Whelsh rain, wind and mud makes it hard to get the dodge out , thanks for the posts Andy.

If i am reading your question correctly: The starter was turning but wasnt turning the engine with it? Kind of rules out the electrics, most likely to be the roller-clutch on the starter pinion has got worn/damaged/rusty. Holding the key over for a while to see if it engages can sometimes help but get a new roller clutch.

I am assuming here that mopar starters have this design ? the clutch is a one way thing, same as those toothless ratchets, and is there to allow the engine to fire and run faster than the starter is going before you let go of the key and the starter retracts.

Will

It's got a ratchet mechanism, the gear work attached is a little more involved than most Chevy/Ford ones as the motor is also geared down. It engages with a small solenoid, which is more likely to cause a problem ...