1983 Ramcharger

[nikki1228]

I started having weird starting problems, sometimes when you go to turn it over, it will just make a clicking noise but if you hit the starter with a hammer alittle bit then it will start fine and run fine, sometimes it will start fine and run fine all day long but then if you leave it for a couple of hours and try to start it, it will just make the clicking noise. Does anyone have any ideas what this could be?

[dieseldoug]

It may be that the starter-motor brushes and/or springs are about 'shot', and/or the motor comutator is 'varnished' to the point that it resists passing current from the carbon brush under certain ambient conditions ... the 'only does it when it's cold' fits that symptom well in an older vehicle ... if it seems to happen on cool, damp mornings in the springtime; even more so.

If the brushes are well worn (and therefore the springs not pushing the brushes hard against the comutator) .. the 'jolt' from the hammer may be just enough to vibrate the brush into better contact and off you go. Carbon dirt in the brush/springs might contribute to the problem.

DYI brushes/springs go for < $20 parts + about an hour on the bench (R&R of the starter is the catch). If it's the original starter and solonoid (!) you might want to just consider that it has served well and slip in a quality rebuilt.

[nikki1228]

Well i dont think its the original. it looks pretty new. But i dont know much about it, i just bought the car and it starts fine now and for the last 2 days, its very weird, its kind of an in and out kind of thing.

[fredjacksonsan]

On the older Mopars that's a sure sign of the starter going, like dieseldoug said. Time for a new starter I'm thinking.

[nikki1228]

I was hoping that wouldnt be the case. Thanks for the advice.

[fredjacksonsan]

Not a difficult repair on that year, IIRC it's two bolts holding on the starter, and 2 wire connections. $100 and an hour should have you back on the road.

Of course you can always just keep tapping it for awhile (like I did on my 77 Plymouth for over a year LOL).

[nikki1228]

Lol i might have to because it really needs a new carb first, and i cant seem to find any that fit into my budget right now.

[fredjacksonsan]

Yeah, you can't normally hit a carb with a hammer and expect to fix it....$200+ for a carb, or more now I guess?

[nikki1228]

Yea around $250 for a new one. I only have a 2 barrel in it right now which just sucks lol.