car wont start with key
 

question my 74 duster wont start with the key....... i put the key on the open position and a screw driver on the starter or the relay and it turns on......i replaced the relay and the same thing it wont start with the key any ideas.......please!!!! :confused:

if you have an automatic transmission, try starting it in neutral. If it still doesn't start the look into the park/neutral switch located on the driver side of the tranny behind where the shifter levers are. If your tranny will not shift properly into park when shifting into it, it will keep it from shifting, so maybe wiggling the shifter lever will help out.

how does it look
 

how does it look like i had that problem before it wouldn't start ill put it in nuetral and it would start i been trying that but it still wont start once i start the car with the screw driver it shifts fine

is the key switch sending 12v to the relay?

i checked both wires on the relay with the key on the on position the cable going to the starter im not getting a reading on the other wire in getting 12.5 but of course its connected to the battery

The neutral safety switch (couldn't remember the name of it before) should be a single wire. You can ground that wire to see if the switch is the problem.

were exactly is the neutral safety switch located

I know it is on the drivers side of the tranny, I think by the rear hose, by the back driver's side corner of the pan. You should be able to see a connector in the tranny housing and/or a wire there.

thanks ill look into it tomorrow....... its raining...... i im unable to look at it today i will replay tomorrow

oh yeah is it normal to shift gear and not be stepping on the brakes it only does that with the key on the on position (i mean on older cars)

check you wire going in to the connectors on your fire wall it happened to me on my 72 satellite just check wall you wire going to and from the connectors of the fire wall

my 70 dart did the same thing, turns out the relay wasn't grounded to the inner fender. jumper wire and i was good to go.

you need to check the wires (thin) at the relay while the key is in the cranking position. one should have 12v when the key is cranked.

Sounds like an add on that an other owner did. i never heard of a breaker located in that area. the previous owner could have replaced the fusible link with a breaker? and yes it normal to put it in gear without pressing the brakes. thats the way older cars were.

im pretty sure is not a add on i checked the haynes repair manual it doesn't say or talk about it but it comes out in illustrations

that could be true... but a relay usually dont have a button to reset, the common ones are spdt relays and they dont have a reset. well anyhow did you get it running right?

it starts now i had to put a screw in the botton and hold it down with some tape....... i dont know if its a relay but im trying to fine out what it is so i could replace it..... i dont know if its going to cause damage down the line by not working properly ......it must be there for a reason

do you think you could post a pick? a fairly wide one with a arrow pointing out the relay... just cuz id like to see it thats all.

X2

hummm, that might be a seat belt interlock relay.

try taking that screw out and plug in the driver's seat belt before cranking the engine.

in a 74?

i tried with the seat belt still nothing.....yeah in a 74 plymouth duster.... i went to a dealer they dont know what it is.....they think it could be a alarm cut off switch they looked it up in a catalog and if it is that they dont make that part any more..... just thinking of just eliminating the switch.... ill post a pic of it tomorrow

duster74.. what i meant is i dont think they had seat belt interlocks in thoses years just lights,, the 74 charger my parents bought was recalled cuz of the seat belt light, all it was is a bad ground on the light, anyhow pics please!!!! polaradude will give you 5 bucks to post a pick!! (im lying)

Let me see, $5.00 Canadian is about 50 cents American, ya I'll buy that.:D
Seat belt interlock, was there even seatbelts in 74.:D

Take a look under the dash, there might be a kill switch under there, I know I have one in my 77.

Also try tracing the wires from the box under the hood, may lead to something. Are there any part numbers on it, I can try to look it up and see if I can find one in my buddies warehouse.

this is the part i been talking about Attachment 554

Attachment 555

i dont recall seeing on of those on a mopar but it looks to me like a simple breaker.

X2

Are there any numbers on it? If you turn the button does it tighten or loosen, perhaps it is a kill switch that you turn to engage/ disengage.