1988 Dodge Daytona

DAYTONASHELBYMAN76

MEMBER
1988 DODGE DAYTONA

Electrical problem
1988 Dodge Daytona 4 cyl Manual

I have a 1988 dodge daytona shelby z that I recently purchased and am restoring. The car started fine for awhile and then the battery died. I recently replaced the battery but then the unexpected happened. I have a feeling there is an electrical problem because the engine will crank over as soon as I hook up the battery cables to the battery(not when I turn the key and step on the clutch like normal in a manual transmission). I did have to put in a wiring harness and do some splicing so im sure it has something to do with this. I also had to replace the oxygen sensor connector and its possible I spliced the wrong wires together but im not sure that would make the problem I am having? Im thinking it could be a bad ground or a continuosly open starting circuit? I am not sure how this could be. The starter was taken out and bench tested so I do know that it works. It seems that the starter is getting direct battery feed and tries to turn over the car so I have to quickly disconnect the battery cables. I have also checked all my ground connections and they are secure. What do you suggest I do and where should I look? Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

5 Replies

DOCFIXIT

MECHANIC
18,828 POSTS

Hi
Starter relay is closed located on left shock tower. Pull brown/yellow off relay did it open ie. Can you hook up batt now?
Let me know
Thanks for donate

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Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 AT 9:06 AM

DAYTONASHELBYMAN76

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I did what you told me. Then hooked up the cables to the battery and the engine still cranks over. I even disconnected the starter relay and it still cranked over. So it cranks over with and without the relay attatched. Not sure if this helps you to further diagnose but I don't have any interior or dash lights and the accessories and headlights do not work. However if I take one of cables that hook to the positive terminal and touch it on the post I do get interior lights and the accesories will work. I am at a loss. Could it be possible that my starter could be faulty even though I know it is getting power? Or perhaps my wiring is faulty in the starting circuit preventing power from reaching elsewhere? If all else fails I may need to find another turbo wiring harness!

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Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 AT 6:07 PM

DAYTONASHELBYMAN76

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Did what you told me. Then hooked up the cables to the battery and the engine still cranks over. I even disconnected the starter relay and it still cranked over. So it cranks over with and without the relay attatched. Not sure if this helps you to further diagnose but I don't have any interior or dash lights and the accessories and headlights do not work. However if I take one of cables that hook to the positive terminal and touch it on the post I do get interior lights and the accesories will work. I am at a loss. Could it be possible that my starter could be faulty even though I know it is getting power? Or perhaps my wiring is faulty in the starting circuit preventing power from reaching elsewhere? If all else fails I may need to find another turbo wiring harness!

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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 AT 12:54 PM

DOCFIXIT

MECHANIC
18,828 POSTS

If starter solenoid is not faulty then some how the brown wire from relay has power to it. Check brown wire for voltage unhooked from relay

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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 AT 1:35 PM

DAYTONASHELBYMAN76

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5 POSTS

Well I was able to find the short and now I can hook the battery cables up without the engine trying to crank over. Then I went to try to start it with the key. Turned the key and nothing happened. Not even a sound from the starter. So I took out the starter and tested the solenoid. Too my surprise nothing happened. Took the starter out and had it tested at an auto parts store just to make sure and it tested bad. I purchased a new starter and hope that when I install it the car will start up.