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My 308 will sometimes start, sometimes nothing

Discussion in '308/328' started by vogel, May 5, 2011.

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  1. vogel

    vogel Karting

    Jun 21, 2001
    126
    Powder Springs, GA
    Full Name:
    Charles Byrd
    #1 vogel, May 5, 2011
    Guys, been a while since I posted, but I have a issue. My 77 308 has been very reliable in the 10 years I have owned her, but lately she has developed a hiccup. Sometimes when I turn the key, gas pump starts, and after the alloted time, I crank her up just fine. Others, the gas pump starts, then nothing. Others, nothing. I was wondering if it is the switch, or is there some other gremlin poking its head into my car while she is sleeping?

    Thanks for any ideas!
     
  2. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    #2 Paul_308, May 5, 2011
    Please clarify. When the engine doesn't start, what are the symptoms? By 'nothing' do you mean there is no sound from the fuel pump or that the engine doesn't come to life? If you are concerned with an intermittent fuel pump, a bad fuse and/or fuseblocks is the common cause. Has yours been changed?
     
  3. vogel

    vogel Karting

    Jun 21, 2001
    126
    Powder Springs, GA
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    Charles Byrd
    #3 vogel, May 5, 2011
    Sometimes there is no electrical connection at all when you move the key to start. It seems like the contacts in the switch are not touching, but I do not know why it will start sometimes. The lights come on, the gas pump whines, and then when you turn the key to START, it goes dead, everything, no lights, gas pump whine, or starter. I thought it might be a weak battery, but even when fully charged, it does the same thing.
     
  4. Fave

    Fave F1 Rookie

    Aug 12, 2010
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    L. Ike Hunt
    #4 Fave, May 5, 2011
    Last edited: May 5, 2011
    Bad relay? Maybe the ignition switch is broken.
     
  5. vogel

    vogel Karting

    Jun 21, 2001
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    Powder Springs, GA
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    Charles Byrd
    #5 vogel, May 5, 2011
    But if it were a bad relay, would it start at all?
     
  6. italianjoe

    italianjoe Formula Junior

    Jun 30, 2010
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    dearborn heights mi
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    joe
    #6 italianjoe, May 5, 2011
    sounds like you have an intermitten no crank/no start.......1st check battery cables, make sure they have a good contaction........2nd check the battery cable groung, make sure it has a good chassis ground....3rd when its not cranking over check the voltage wire at the startor soleniod with the key in the crank postion......these are the frist steps good luck
     
  7. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,689
    North shore, MA
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    THE Birdman
    #7 Birdman, May 5, 2011
    The switch contacts in the ignition switch are notorious. Pull the thing out of the steering column and squirt a good dose of electrical contact cleaner in there. Nothing fancy, you can get it a Radio Shack. Works WONDERS! (It's also great on the window switches).

    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103700

    Birdman
     
  8. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    #8 Jdubbya, May 5, 2011
    Also check the engine ground. Should be a strap on the back passenger side that goes to the frame.
     
  9. vogel

    vogel Karting

    Jun 21, 2001
    126
    Powder Springs, GA
    Full Name:
    Charles Byrd
    #9 vogel, May 5, 2011
    Guys, thanks so much, I'll be checking them this weekend.
     
  10. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

    Jul 26, 2009
    5,401
    Ahwatukee, AZ
    #10 PV Dirk, May 5, 2011
    If it's a bad connection in the ignition switch, when you get nothing, hold in crank position and wiggle it a little. If bad connection it may come back, then you know it's in the switch. Electrical contact cleaner is very good stuff too. Killed all my switch gremlins with it over a year ago.
     
  11. maestro8

    maestro8 Formula 3
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    Dec 2, 2009
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    #11 maestro8, May 5, 2011
    I killed my switch gremlins with contact cleaner as well...

    ...as well as my switch faces! I learned the hard way that contact cleaner eats plastic.

    Be warned! Don't let the cleaner sit on anything but the switch contacts!
     
  12. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    #12 Paul_308, May 5, 2011
    Joe suggested the starter solenoid as a possibility. To distinguish between ignition key and starter solenoid:

    On the 1977, there is no relay which is responsible for the starter motor to turn. But two relays are activated on the relay-fuse area when the key switch is turned to 'start'. The brake light warning light relay and the ignition coil which boosts spark voltage. If the starter is intermittent due to a bad starter solenoid, you would hear those in cabin relays clicking but get no starter rotation. If you hear no clicking, it's the ignition switch.

    _________________________
    http://www.FerrariWiring.com
     
  13. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    #13 Jdubbya, May 6, 2011
  14. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    #14 Paul_308, May 6, 2011
    I bought my Stabilant about 10 years back when it was ONLY $52. Unlike brute forcing with Radio Shack Contact Cleaner or WD-40, which might for a while if your lucky wash the contacts clean, Stabilant is used a drop at a time, 15ml lasts a great whopping while. It removes oxide coatings from the contacts and leaves a oxide resistant coating on them. The polymer liquid coating itself is conductive.
     

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