Something odd when starting my wagon + maybe another electrical issue?

89, FWD, 5-speed... For the second time in 2 months, I've gone to start my car (which normally fires right up) and I'll turn the key and there will be a split second hesitation before anything happens. As in, no sound/cranking then it will fire right up as usual. I naturally only have to turn key for a split second for engine to start so sometimes I'll stop turning key per-maturely and engine wont start (because I don't compensate for the hesitation, make sense?). Then, I go to turn key and nothing... As in no starting, no cranking, nothing. The clock comes on and that is it. After 5 minutes I'll try and start again and it will crank slow but it will still turn over and then it's fine. I'll drive somewhere, get out for awhile come back and car fires right up... I know this all sounds a bit silly but this is the best way I can describe it. Also, at night time my dash/clock will flicker and go in and out depending on if I'm using the brakes or revving/driving. I included 2 videos to show you what I mean. (Sorry about the music, it's late-night N. Colorado NPR...) One of the vids is blurry because I had to brighten the video to properly see dash lights and it made the gauges distorted. I didn't know if the two issues were related being they are both (I think) electrical issues. I was going to just buy a starter and new alternator, install them and see what happens, but I think back to my last project (66 Dodge Dart) and learned it's better to figure out the *real* issues instead of spending hundreds of dollars first.

****EDIT: Problem fixed! was alternator! :)

Comments

  • Not sure about the clock stuff...but it's always a good idea to check the main relay with weird starting issues. The solder joints crack and can give ya very different behaviors depending on temperature and such. You can easily repair it by just melting the old solder to get rid of the cracks (easy way) or actually resoldering the main points on the relay.
  • swaggyswaggy Band Wagon
    Possibly a bad ground. Check the engine ground and battery cables. (saw you fixed it)
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