Just thought I'd throw this out for anybody whose car has sat awhile.

I have a large, old Dodge truck (3/4-ton, longbed, poly 318 crew cab) with a 727 tranny that had been sitting awhile since gas was spendy and it gets rotten mileage.

Anyhow, I decided to run it today. So I squirted some Marvel Mystery oil down the plug holes to wet the cylinder walls and then cranked it with the coil lead disconnected to pump up some oil pressure before trying to fire it up.

Then I brightened up the battery terminals and cable clamps for good contact.

The battery was a bit weak (headlights kinda dim) so I hooked up my battery charger to give it a nice, 200-amp jolt. Turned the key: nothing. No starter.

Being a lazy SOB who HATES tracking down auto electric gremlins, I'm thinking, "now...what could cause this that will require the LEAST work to fix"? The words "neutral safety switch" pop into my head. So I work the shift lever back and forth a few times, turn the key and BINGO: she cranks over and fires up. I'm guessing it was just that the contacts were corroded "just enough" from sitting, cause it's worked fine ever since.

So always remember the diagnostic prime directive: start with easy and move systematically towards hard.

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obliquely-inclined state of mind

Neutral safety switch on the tranny......on old rigs they are always a pain....you can always start it in neutral when your in a pinch.

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

I find my '71 automatic often won't crank in P after it's sat a few weeks - fires up in N, then P works from then on until the next time. I've put in a new switch, still happens. I had the pan off and everything looked fine. I *suspect* that trans fluid works its way in there prevents a good contact, but after running a bit the fluid level drops and lets it work OK. It's not worth trying to fix, but I note that it's been consistently doing this for 10+ years.

Is the shifter properly adjusted? If it's not then it can do the same thing. You can always take the cheating "not so safe anymore" route, and just ground the terminal on the starter relay for the neutral safety switch.

We did this on a friends '65 because it has the cable shift linkage and it was the easy way around.

Just remember, it will start in any shifter position, so don't leave it in gear!



~THOR~

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1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing