Hello gents,

During some work on my Satellite, an overzealous friend of mine detached the alternator wires with the battery still attached - and a jump starter pouring amps into the battery at the same time.

*sigh*

After hearing the snap of an electrical short by the alternator, I swore, unplugged the battery, re-attached the alternator, re-attached the battery, and tried to turn the engine over. No dice. Not even a clicking noise of a bad solenoid.

The interior lights still work, the headlights still work. But the car won't turn over, and I could swear that the e-brake light used to work  - now it doesn't.

I checked all of the fuses in the glove box, they look fine and test fine as well.

I can turn over the starter by going under the car and shorting out the wires on the solenoid with a screwdriver... but turning the key does nothing.

I'm no electrical expert, but if I can short out the solenoid I'm guessing power's not getting there. Anybody have any idea where I should be looking for the problem?

Thanks fellows,

- Cleeve  

If I had to guess I would say the starter relay has been shorted out. First thing I would do is get a wiring diagram of the vehicles electrical system. This can be down loaded from many mopar sights, or if you have a wiring diagram in a book us it, this will help you understand what I am about to tell you.
You will need a test light, a volt meter, and a amp/ohm meter.
First check to make sure your battery is o.k., 12+ volts.
If it is reading anything less than 12 volts it will need a charge and then recheck.
If the battery does not recover replace it.
Second, check the battery connections, they may have been poor and with the extra jolt they may now need repair, you may need new cable ends, be sure to clean them if they appear o.k. and reinstall.
Check the ground to the motor from the battery.
Now check for current to the starter relay on the firewall with a test light. If you have no light, replace the + battery cable to the starter relay. Also make sure you have good ground at the relay.
If you have power there try jumping the two main connections at the relay, if it turns over and starts with a jump replace the relay. If none of these help you may have a bad connection, or melted wires at the ign. switch, or relay. To test for this you will need your test light to see if there is power going to and from the ign. switch, to do this find the wiring harness that goes to the steering column and turn the ign. switch on until you find a red wire with power. Turn the switch on [try starting the car] until you find the feed to the relay. If there is no feed from the ign. switch to the relay you will have to repair the switch or possibly the wiring harness going to the ign. switch.
After you get it running you will need to check to make sure your alt. & voltage reg. were not shorted out, check your amp gauge.
If you find your at a point where the vehicle will turn over but won't start check for power to the positive side of your ign. coil with the key on. If there is no power find power from the ign. feed or ign. 1 and run a new feed wire to the coil.
If all else fails e-mail me and walk me through your steps and I will try and be of assistance.  

67mopar@sympatico.ca  

Thank you very much for your time Dr. Mopar, I appreciate it.

I'll let you know how it turns out!