Starting issues - 69 Super Bee

[440beep]

So I've got a pretty much stock 1969 Super Bee and occasionally on start up there's a loud clicking noise (I think the starter's not being fully engaged), but the car won't fire up. Sometimes there's no noise, complete silence. It takes a couple times before the starter actually engages as it should and the car starts. This happens both on a cold start up or warm start up. I've got a Powermaster XS Torque starter, and not sure how old the starter relay is. When the car is a pain to start, I will start it by crossing the starter relay and it starts as it should. I have the paint ground down to bare metal where the relay is mounted, and I also have it grounded to the firewall motor ground.

For the life of me I can't figure out the problem. I thought for sure grounding it to the firewall motor ground would have fixed the problem, but nothing. Might it be time for a new starter relay as I have no idea how old it is? Or a new positive battery cable (seems ok, but I've seen better).

I thought I covered everything, but am I missing something on what might be the issue?

 

[tpodwdog]

So I've got a pretty much stock 1969 Super Bee and occasionally on start up there's a loud clicking noise (I think the starter's not being fully engaged), but the car won't fire up. Sometimes there's no noise, complete silence. It takes a couple times before the starter actually engages as it should and the car starts. This happens both on a cold start up or warm start up. I've got a Powermaster XS Torque starter, and not sure how old the starter relay is. When the car is a pain to start, I will start it by crossing the starter relay and it starts as it should. I have the paint ground down to bare metal where the relay is mounted, and I also have it grounded to the firewall motor ground.

For the life of me I can't figure out the problem. I thought for sure grounding it to the firewall motor ground would have fixed the problem, but nothing. Might it be time for a new starter relay as I have no idea how old it is? Or a new positive battery cable (seems ok, but I've seen better).

I thought I covered everything, but am I missing something on what might be the issue?

starter relay ...$9.00 at NAPA....wouldnt hurt to toss one in anyway...but i had a weird thing like that happening on my 440 Belvy II. before you go out and buy a bunch of stuff you might not need,,,,,do this.....

clean the NEGATIVE battery terminals at both the battery,,,and where it mounts on the block. make sure you scuff up the cable end and the mating surface where it goes to on the block. this might cure your problem...it did for me......try it.:blob1: clean the positives the same way...on the battery and on the starter. there should be 2 leads on the starter.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

X2 on the starter relay and batt terms, clean and tighten.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

So I've got a pretty much stock 1969 Super Bee and occasionally on start up there's a loud clicking noise (I think the starter's not being fully engaged), but the car won't fire up. Sometimes there's no noise, complete silence. It takes a couple times before the starter actually engages as it should and the car starts. This happens both on a cold start up or warm start up. I've got a Powermaster XS Torque starter, and not sure how old the starter relay is. When the car is a pain to start, I will start it by crossing the starter relay and it starts as it should. I have the paint ground down to bare metal where the relay is mounted, and I also have it grounded to the firewall motor ground.

For the life of me I can't figure out the problem. I thought for sure grounding it to the firewall motor ground would have fixed the problem, but nothing. Might it be time for a new starter relay as I have no idea how old it is? Or a new positive battery cable (seems ok, but I've seen better).

I thought I covered everything, but am I missing something on what might be the issue?

Yes, it sounds like the relay is sticking occasionally. I would replace the relay, as others have said, it is relatively cheap and easy to replace.

For the record, the starter relay DOES NOT get its ground from the sheetmetal that it is attached to. You can grind all the paint you want, and it isn't going to help the problem you are having. The yellow wire is +12 V from the ignition switch, and the brown wire is the ground from your NSS (neutral safety switch). You have to have both at the same time to energize the relay. Once energized, the current from the battery just passes through the relay to the starter.

The starter relay is just a "high current capable switch" controlled by a signal from a low current switch (the ignition switch on the dash).

 

[67 coronet]

the loud click is normally a sign of low power(bad bat cable connections,or low battery)getting to the starter.make sure when you clean both ends of both cables that there is no corrosion building inside the cables.common problem missed by manny.if you find any replace the cables.replacing the relay is a good idea just because its cheep,and you dont know its condition.

 

[69Bee]

The ignition switch in the dash could also be going bad in the start position.

 

[440beep]

Thanks guys, a new relay and positive battery cable is on the way.

I did discover that the small wire on the starter is a bit loose, not much, but I can move it. I installed the new starter about a month and a half ago and made sure to clean the contacts and coat them with electrical grease; really hope they wouldn't get corroded in that short amount of time.

And I may need to scrutinize the yellow and brown wires and make sure they are solid.

 

[440beep]

Installed the new starter relay today and all six times I started and restarted the car today she was perfect!!! Thanks for all the help/suggestions guys.