79 Spider intermitent starting problem

[barnesjtsl]

I have had the intermitent starting problem for a few months.

I finally got around to taking out the connector on the red wire to the solenoid and soldered the wire together. That didn't work.

I put a relay in and used the red wire from the ignition switch to engage the relay and ran power directly (through the relay) to the solenoid from the battery.

WORKED FANTASTIC! Until today. I'm in Portland OR. During the time period mentioned above the temperature high's during the day have been between high 40's to low 70's. Today the temperature hit the low 80's and now after driving 32 miles to work the car won't start at all. Everything electrical works except the starter.

Should I go out and buy a new (rebuilt) starter?

jb

[TX82FIAT]

JB, since all the other electricals are working I'm not sure it is the ignition switch. If the car is running hot does the coil get real hot and need some time to cool off before re-starting. I think these are oil cooled units and the module under the coil fails when hot. Maybe the pickup in the dizzy? Many years ago i thought i had an ignition problem when my 83' would not start after driving it for a while. At first it would not restart until it cooled off a little and then it started to sputer and stall after driving fro a while. You may have the beginnings of a failed module under the coil.

The ignition switch does tend to intermittantly fail when it starts to fail. Does the starter crank but you get no fire? Or do you get no crank on the starter at all after driving for a while? Hope some of this helps in some way. The starter has it's own circuit running through the ignition so the problem could be in the switch for just the starter circuit/resistance.

Ray

[spider2081]

Does the relay you installed click? Can you tell if it is working when the car's starter is not cranking.

If when the starter does crank it sounded good to you you may only need the starter solenoid. New starter solenoids cost in the $50 dollar range.
Is there a shop near you that repairs alternators generators and starters?? That is where I would bring the starter before buying another and replacing it.

[barnesjtsl]

The car does not run Hot. Never over 190.

It always starts in the morning after sitting over night, but when driven until it heats up the intermittent starting issue happens.

All the electrical works, the engine just won't turn over, but I can push start it with not problem. I have gotten to the point where I try and find a little hill every time I need to shut the car off.

I haven't checked to see if the new relay clicks.

The module under the coil is two years old. I know even a new one can fail, but just wanted to mention that it isn't 10 years old.

[majicwrench]

If it push starts fine, just won't crank it's not the module coil blah blah.

You really need to test some things and not just keep guessing. Is there voltage getting to the solenoid (red?)wire when you turn key to crank position?? That is the very first thing you need to know. If it happens infrequently, run a wire inside car and sit voltmeter on dash so you KNOW what is happening.
If you get lucky and have two people along when it fails, hav ethe least mechanicly inclined sit in drivers seat, w brake on in nuetral, hold key in crank position.
Other party takes long pipe, tire iron etc and rests it against starter than smacks pipe w hammer. Often jarring starter will make em take off and run.

[barnesjtsl]

I had a coworker turn the key to the start postition. Set a pipe against the starter and popped it one and it fire right up.

Is that the solenoid going bad?

jb

[So Cal Mark]

no, it's the starter. The armature is stuck to the field coils and banging on it jars the armature loose. Eventually you will break the field coils and the starter won't work at all. Time to replace the starter