Hey all,

Following my nasty episode with the reversed battery, I followed Dan's advice and bought a new alt and VR for my dart. Alternator was a perfect match (physically) but the VR looked a little different.
Installation went well, but when I went to turn the key, nothing happened. So I removed the new VR and put my old one back in, and dart started right up. I've got another one on order.
I have been driving it around, and have not had any charging problems, so I thought I'd continue and replace the VR when the new one comes in.
Unfortunately, it happened again, and this time in a public parking lot. Which happens to be really close to an Autozone, which had regulators for dart in stock. Got one, put it in, and still no go. Nothing.

What should I do? Is there anything I can do to get it going so I can drive it home or should I be making arrangements to tow dart home?

Thanks, looking forward to your (prompt) responses.

Mike

_________________
1966 Dart Wagon
1967 Volvo 122s
1989 Ford F350 4x4

Bad connection at battery?

Assuming you are working on the 66 dart in your bio tagline. Assuming slant six since it is posted here. Get the car into a safe spot where it will not roll. If it is a manual put it in nuetral and block tires so it doesn't roll, if an auto put it in park.

These instruction assume knowledge of using a test light. Attach test light to battery ground terminal and touch probe end to small terminal on starter. Have assistant turn key to start. If it lights your starter is the problem. If it doesn't light time for more diagnosing. This is usually the part where I would use a screwdriver to bypass the crank circuit and spin the starter. to do this

Once again make sure car will NOT ROLL when it starts nuetral/park. Turn key to run, use screwdriver to make contact between the big terminal on the starter and the little terminal on the starter. If your battery connections are good this should cause the starter to spin the engine. With the key in run it should also start allowing you to drive to a more convenient location. When making contact with the screwdriver do NOT touch any part of the car or starter besides the 2 starter terminal. The big wire from the battery has a lot of energy and will instantly weld itself to any grounded piece of metal which can blow a battery up or start fires.

Here is a link to a picture of a starter in case you are unsure. You can see the two terminals in the picture.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-83-84-85-86- ... es&vxp=mtr

Your assumptions about what I'm working on are correct. Sorry to everyone for not being more specific; at the time I posted I was a little, bummed.

As far as my knowing how to use a test light, not so much. But with your instructions, I'll try to figure it out.

Thank you very much.

Mike

_________________
1966 Dart Wagon
1967 Volvo 122s
1989 Ford F350 4x4

I only posted enough info for bypassing the starter. If your problem is elsewhere my advice won't do much good. I should have asked in the first post. When you turn the key to run do your accessories (radio,wipers,heater fan) work or not?

These really are pretty simple cars once you get some experience with them, but me personally I am out of practice on them and don't have a service manual with me to refresh my brain.

yes, the accessories work when i turn the key.

i really appreciate your help.

mike

_________________
1966 Dart Wagon
1967 Volvo 122s
1989 Ford F350 4x4