1968 Roadrunner makes clicking noise when I try to start it

[Glew]

Hi everyone, I recently bought a 1968 roadrunner. Everything was running pretty smooth until today. I went to start the car and it ran for 10 seconds before cutting off. Tried again and nothing happened. So I popped the hood and found one of the distributor wires was out. How? I have no clue. So I put the wire back in and all it does now is make a clicking noise when I turn the key. All of the lights and radio work so I don't think it's the battery. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Solenoid
Do you have much car/mechanical experience?

BTW: Welcome aboard and thamks for joining the forum.
Tell the group a little about yourself, where your from and the details about your Plymouth B-body.

 

[Glew]

Somewhat, if I have detailed instructions I can usually get by. Thanks for your help also. I'm going to look into changing that this weekend. I bought this car from a guy in Alabama about a month ago. It's an original 383 4 speed car and everything is stock as far as I can tell.

 

[terzmo]

jump the starter relay on the firewall and see if it turns over after ensuring 12+ volts at battery
first things I'd do

ensure the battery cables are clean and tight....loose ones work good...then bad...somtimes good...get the drift

 

[nm9stheham]

If the battery connections are good...and assuming the wiring is pretty much stock, then trun on the headlights to low beam and turn the key to START; see if the headlights continue to burn with little change or if they go very dim or out.

If they are OK, then:
1. Get or borrow a voltmeter
2. Check battery voltage; should be around 12.6v after sitting for a few hours if the charging system is working right and the battery is good.
3. Check from battery - to the yellow lead on the starter relay; it should be approximately the same as the battery voltage when you turn the key to START
4. Then check the voltage from battery - to the brown wiring coming off of the starter relay ; it also should be approx battery voltage when the key is turned to START. This wire sends +12v to the starter to activate the starter; if this test is good, then check all grounds from the engine to the chassis and from battery - to chassis and engine block to be sure they are clean, along with the + cbales from the batteyr to the starter. If so, then it is the starter.

 

[Glew]

I just got around to trying to fix the problem. I don't have a voltage meter yet. I ended up jumping off the battery and it started right up. Came back to drive it the next day now the ignition will turn but the engine won't fire. It's all original wiring so I might have a bad wire somewhere. As soon as I get my meter I'll test everything as you stated.

 

[nm9stheham]

Where did you jump from and to for your test?

 

[Glew]

I just took my battery to get it checked at auto zone. It was pretty weak at 30%. So they charged it up and the car did fine all that day. Next day when I went to crank it the ignition would turn but the car wouldn't start. Took the battery back up there and they said it was 80% charged. All the wiring is original with some of them looking a little worn out. I just got a voltmeter so I'll be able to check the wires sunday.

 

[miller]

Good chance your battery cables are bad.
If there's corrosion visible, on positive, or ground cable, probably need to replace 'em.

 

[nm9stheham]

When you get that meter, check the voltage at the battery with the car at fast idle (if you can get it started). It should be in the range of 13.7 to 14.3 volts at fast idle. Much less than that range, and the alternator is dead or dieing. Clean up all ground connections really good whiel you are in there at this point to get that out of the way as a possible problem.

 

[sleepar]

Sometimes an old key switch or corroded connectors at the firewall and check the ground at the head to fire wall and on the head to battery... the strength of the wire and connectors goes a long way even with new solenoid and relays... mopar is notorious for inadequate wireing from factory not to mention hack radio installs or fog lamps etc that people have done over the years... mice can get into the cleanest rust free cars at some time it sat and cause problems that seem to have no solutions... with that said it is never the one thing that causes an electrical problem.