Expert: Roland Finston - 11/30/2011

Question
when I go to start my 2000 Chrysler 300M recently I turn the key an there is a hesitation (no clinking sound or anything ...just nothing) before the starter actually turns over. Occasionally I need to try a couple of time to get it to catch. The battery has been replaced recently and all other power options seem to preform at full strength (meaning the door locks and windows seem to have full power to them, so I am not thinking it is a weak battery or loose cable.

Answer
Hi Gord,
There are several contacts in the chain that causes the starter motor to turn over. The battery, and the fat red wire that connects from the battery to the starter motor solenoid switch is the high current part of the system. Then from the ignition switch contacts to the starter motor relay actuation coil (located in the power box under the hood and from there also a wire to the powertrain controller that will ground the wire only if the shift lever is in park or neutral ia another set of contacts). And the current from fuse G in the same box has to flow through the points of the starter relay and from there on a light green wire to the solenoid switch to actuate it. There could be a poor contact along both those pathways, for example.
I am thinking however that the brushes/armature of the starter motor is the most likely place for the slow response. As those surfaces wear/corrode in my experience that is when the starter is slow to respond.
You could verify the battery connections and the connections at the starter motor solenoid but be careful to disconnect the - post wire at the battery so as not to get a short circuit. Also, check with a helper at the ignition key, whether the starter relay is clicking reliably when the start is tried.
If the starter is original and you have quite a few miles then I would suspect the starter motor itself.
Do the relay 'click' verification when the motor doesn't respond. Then also check that the 12v from the relay to the motor solenoid on a light green wire is getting to the solenoid reliably. Also try moving the gear shift slightly off the detent position of P or N and see if that has any impact.
That is how I would recommend you approach this.
Roland
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