74 Plymouth Duster ignition problem

Plymth74Dstr · 08-05-2008, 12:32 AM

Hey, I have a 74 plymouth duster and I cannot start it with the key I can only start it by putting a screwdriver to the solenoid and holding the key like im starting it...I have a ground wire coming from the ignition and do not know where exactly to put it and would like to know where to put it to start the engine from the driver seat

Doc · 08-05-2008, 03:20 AM

Check your neutral starter switch on the trans.

Plymth74Dstr · 08-05-2008, 12:27 PM

Where exactly is the neutral starter switch? I looked but I don't exactly know what to look for

Doc · 08-05-2008, 04:27 PM

Do you have a wire from the trans ...to the solenoid ?

richinny · 08-05-2008, 04:35 PM

does it start in neutral? it this automatic or stick.

hey doc, did they use a seat belt interlock in these?

Doc · 08-05-2008, 06:43 PM

GOOD points Rich ...

Have you been trying to only start it in Park ? .... try neutral.

And as far as that inter-lock ? ... that could have a bearing also. Does this 74 have it ? ... ?????

Mixmastermerrill · 08-05-2008, 11:51 PM

Hmm whats the inter lock? I am having that same problem

Plymth74Dstr · 08-06-2008, 12:07 AM

Iv always been trying to start it in park but I will try it in neutral and see what happens...What's the inter lock?

Plymth74Dstr · 08-06-2008, 12:08 AM

My car is an auto

Doc · 08-06-2008, 02:36 AM

The seat belt "inter-lock" ... does not permit the driver to start the car unless and until his seat belt is connected.

Plymth74Dstr · 08-08-2008, 12:01 AM

Ok I have tried it in park neutral and with both front seat belts on and still nothing...What else could be the problem? I can still start the car by using a screwdriver on the starter solenoid while turning the key from the inside

Doc · 08-08-2008, 02:28 AM

OK ...take the wire off the trans and ground it.

Plymth74Dstr · 08-08-2008, 03:29 PM

Ok ill try that and let you know what happens

richinny · 08-08-2008, 03:41 PM

it might be easier to ground the lead on the relay.

Doc · 08-08-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richinny

it might be easier to ground the lead on the relay.

You might want to try BOTH !!

The wire could be broken.

Plymth74Dstr · 08-09-2008, 12:17 AM

Ok iv looked for both but I am un sure exactly what I am looking for

ef8340 · 08-10-2008, 12:43 PM

hi plymth
here is a way you can bypass it on your relay where your pos bat cable goes there will be other wires going there aswell you should see a brown one if you follow it that will lead you down to the trans nuetral saftey switch if you splice this wire and ground it your car should start off by the ignition key

richinny · 08-10-2008, 02:17 PM

..and even while in gear!

Doc · 08-10-2008, 03:41 PM

It would be the ONLY wire coming off the trans. If there is NO wire .. then THIS is probably the PROB.

Plymth74Dstr · 08-10-2008, 10:04 PM

Oooo ok! I have found the brown wire going down with the other wires to the transmission...So I will have to try that

Plymth74Dstr · 08-10-2008, 10:40 PM

JK, I really have no idea what im looking for AGAIN...I only wire I see coming from the transmission is like a little plug in that looks like it goes up to the shifter...and the only brown wire coming from the starter relay is going to a little black box where the old ac would have been...I could post pictures

Plymth74Dstr · 08-10-2008, 11:07 PM

Ok I read that wrong and so I went to go see the wire coming from the positive and the only brown wire went to the starter soo I am really confused here...

Doc · 08-11-2008, 01:35 AM

Do you have access to any type of service manual ?

Plymth74Dstr · 08-12-2008, 05:05 PM

I obviously need to invest in one lol

Doc · 08-13-2008, 04:05 AM

GOOD "investment" !!

ef8340 · 08-18-2008, 04:54 PM

ply
on your driver side of the trans you should see this shifter linkage shaft mount (if a non shifter on the floor) then lower down by the pan youll see a fluid line next youl see acouple of levers with rods attached to them this is your linkage next another fluid line then you should see a plug that has 3 wires this is your neutral saftey switch this should be close to your trans crossmember this is the one u want, if u see a 3/8 round black one near the end of the trans (on tailstock) this is your speedometer cable this is held on to the trans by a bolt i hope this helps

Plymth74Dstr · 08-21-2008, 06:36 PM

I see the three wires!

Plymth74Dstr · 10-20-2008, 07:47 PM

Ok back to this again...So do I take the neutral safety switch out splice and ground those three wires?

ef8340 · 10-21-2008, 05:42 PM

hi Ply
your gonna want to follow those wires up to the engine compartment there should be a brown one in the mix going to your starter relay its the little box that has wires going to it one from the pos side of the batt is going to it down below it there should be a brown one that one goes to your neutral saftey switch but check 1st!!! if you ground this wire it will override the switch and your car should start by the key be aware that your car will now start in any gear though also before you add this wire try wiring it in loose 1st too see if this is your problem take some wire and clean one end and wrap it to the terminal that the neutral saftey switch wire goes too use the terminal to hold it in place then ground it to a fender bolt ,..... test if it works splice wire into the n.s.s wire and ground it some other place
hope this helps
goodluck Terry

08-05-2008, 12:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	74 Plymouth Duster ignition problem Hey, I have a 74 plymouth duster and I cannot start it with the key I can only start it by putting a screwdriver to the solenoid and holding the key like im starting it...I have a ground wire coming from the ignition and do not know where exactly to put it and would like to know where to put it to start the engine from the driver seat

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08-05-2008, 03:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	Check your neutral starter switch on the trans.

08-05-2008, 12:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	Where exactly is the neutral starter switch? I looked but I don't exactly know what to look for

08-05-2008, 04:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	Do you have a wire from the trans ...to the solenoid ?

08-05-2008, 04:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
richinny Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 115	does it start in neutral? it this automatic or stick. hey doc, did they use a seat belt interlock in these?

08-05-2008, 06:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	GOOD points Rich ... Have you been trying to only start it in Park ? .... try neutral. And as far as that inter-lock ? ... that could have a bearing also. Does this 74 have it ? ... ?????

08-05-2008, 11:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mixmastermerrill Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fairbanks Alaska Posts: 40	Hmm whats the inter lock? I am having that same problem

08-06-2008, 12:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	Iv always been trying to start it in park but I will try it in neutral and see what happens...What's the inter lock?

08-06-2008, 12:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	My car is an auto

08-06-2008, 02:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	The seat belt "inter-lock" ... does not permit the driver to start the car unless and until his seat belt is connected.

08-08-2008, 12:01 AM	#11 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	Ok I have tried it in park neutral and with both front seat belts on and still nothing...What else could be the problem? I can still start the car by using a screwdriver on the starter solenoid while turning the key from the inside

08-08-2008, 02:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	OK ...take the wire off the trans and ground it.

08-08-2008, 03:29 PM	#13 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	Ok ill try that and let you know what happens

08-08-2008, 03:41 PM	#14 (permalink)
richinny Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 115	it might be easier to ground the lead on the relay.

08-09-2008, 12:17 AM	#16 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	Ok iv looked for both but I am un sure exactly what I am looking for

08-10-2008, 12:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
ef8340 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 175	hi plymth here is a way you can bypass it on your relay where your pos bat cable goes there will be other wires going there aswell you should see a brown one if you follow it that will lead you down to the trans nuetral saftey switch if you splice this wire and ground it your car should start off by the ignition key

08-10-2008, 02:17 PM	#18 (permalink)
richinny Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 115	..and even while in gear!

08-10-2008, 03:41 PM	#19 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	It would be the ONLY wire coming off the trans. If there is NO wire .. then THIS is probably the PROB.

08-10-2008, 10:04 PM	#20 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	Oooo ok! I have found the brown wire going down with the other wires to the transmission...So I will have to try that

08-10-2008, 10:40 PM	#21 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	JK, I really have no idea what im looking for AGAIN...I only wire I see coming from the transmission is like a little plug in that looks like it goes up to the shifter...and the only brown wire coming from the starter relay is going to a little black box where the old ac would have been...I could post pictures

08-10-2008, 11:07 PM	#22 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	Ok I read that wrong and so I went to go see the wire coming from the positive and the only brown wire went to the starter soo I am really confused here...

08-11-2008, 01:35 AM	#23 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	Do you have access to any type of service manual ?

08-12-2008, 05:05 PM	#24 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	I obviously need to invest in one lol

08-13-2008, 04:05 AM	#25 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	GOOD "investment" !!

08-18-2008, 04:54 PM	#26 (permalink)
ef8340 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 175	ply on your driver side of the trans you should see this shifter linkage shaft mount (if a non shifter on the floor) then lower down by the pan youll see a fluid line next youl see acouple of levers with rods attached to them this is your linkage next another fluid line then you should see a plug that has 3 wires this is your neutral saftey switch this should be close to your trans crossmember this is the one u want, if u see a 3/8 round black one near the end of the trans (on tailstock) this is your speedometer cable this is held on to the trans by a bolt i hope this helps

08-21-2008, 06:36 PM	#27 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	I see the three wires!

10-20-2008, 07:47 PM	#28 (permalink)
Plymth74Dstr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 20	Ok back to this again...So do I take the neutral safety switch out splice and ground those three wires?

10-21-2008, 05:42 PM	#29 (permalink)
ef8340 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 175	hi Ply your gonna want to follow those wires up to the engine compartment there should be a brown one in the mix going to your starter relay its the little box that has wires going to it one from the pos side of the batt is going to it down below it there should be a brown one that one goes to your neutral saftey switch but check 1st!!! if you ground this wire it will override the switch and your car should start by the key be aware that your car will now start in any gear though also before you add this wire try wiring it in loose 1st too see if this is your problem take some wire and clean one end and wrap it to the terminal that the neutral saftey switch wire goes too use the terminal to hold it in place then ground it to a fender bolt ,..... test if it works splice wire into the n.s.s wire and ground it some other place hope this helps goodluck Terry