Car won't start with key, but starts at relay??

[440beep]

So I went to start my car today and head to the local cruise night, and nothing, car was completely dead/silent. Looked around the engine bay for anything loose and nothing out of place. Tried starting it at the starter relay with my starter trigger and the car fired right up. Not sure what the yellow wire does that is connected to the starter relay, but with a test light hooked to the yellow wire it lights up when the key is turned on/off for starting. Tested the other smaller wire below the yellow one and it didn't light up.

Could the starter relay be bad and just affect the key side?

 

[Propwash]

Sounds like the Starter Relay is junk. Pretty typical symptom when you can cross the solenoid and power stud on the relay and it starts. Yellow wire is a trigger wire for the relay and is doing what it supposed to do. It comes from your ignition switch. Other wire is from the Neutral safety switch and is ground. Good luck.

 

[kiwigtx]

I replaced mine a while back for an intermittent lack of start on the key. The ground return on those relays can be patchy at best. Some have internal ground, others have external ground wire which needs to be securely under a bolt.

 

[terzmo]

napa has relays..fairly cheap

 

[440beep]

This relay is really starting to piss me off. This is the second one in a year. Why can't somebody design a reliable one. I will run to Napa tomorrow for hopefully a relay.

At Napa, do I ask for a relay for a '69 Coronet, or just a any relay?

THanks guys!!!!

 

[kiwigtx]

I'm not trying to promote Year One here at all, but I used one of theirs mid last year, and the problem has gone away.

 

[A383Wing]

the other smaller wire at the bottom is the ground through the neutral safety switch on trans.

 

[440beep]

The relay in the car now is from Year One. I've got two more coming from Mancini, we shall see what happens.

I'm not trying to promote Year One here at all, but I used one of theirs mid last year, and the problem has gone away.

 

[A383Wing]

I just get them from local auto part store...no problems

 

[440beep]

I just checked my local Napa store and they have one in stock, so I will be getting it tomorrow. Its an Echlin Ignition Parts one. Looks like three different companies make these.

I just get them from local auto part store...no problems

 

[A383Wing]

Echlin is a good brand

 

[eagleone1983]

Don't know if you checked or not but the relays are different for auto and stick

 

[440beep]

Just installed the new relay and still doesn't start with the key. Still works from the relay though. Wonder if its in the dash now?

 

[70rr-brian]

Try disconnecting all of your bulkhead connections under the hood and reseat them for grins and giggles.

 

[440beep]

Nope, no luck. But boy do those connections/box get filthy.

Try disconnecting all of your bulkhead connections under the hood and reseat them for grins and giggles.

 

[67 coronet]

gound the wire at the relay that goes to the neutral safty switch and see if it starts then.more them likely your prob at this point is the neutral safety switch.

 

[440beep]

Well, its only getting worse. So I went to remove the key ignition switch and got it loose just to check for any broken wires. As I was loosening the ignition bezel, something came loose from behind the dash. What I found was a little key and its like a key for a safety deposit box, or a tiny lock. Found no broken wires that I could tell, so put the ignition back together. Went to start the car, and now the ignition key won't go in all the way. WTF?!? Might the cylinder have turned on me?

Who ever told me that "muscle cars are fun" I would sure like to punch them right in the face!

 

[440beep]

You got it!!!!! Grounded the neutral safety switch terminal on the starter relay to the battery and car fired right up with the key. Does this mean the neutral safety switch on the tranny is bad? Damnit!!! This one's less than a year old too.

gound the wire at the relay that goes to the neutral safty switch and see if it starts then.more them likely your prob at this point is the neutral safety switch.

 

[A383Wing]

switch is bad, connector is bad or loose

 

[eagleone1983]

You can get a new connector at NAPA, That's were I got mine. Shoot the wires just be sure as well.