vanman2

1976 dodge b200 van 318 automatic ~~~ turn the key cranks so slow wont start battery is good need help

Scott at Team Harco

Well, you've come to the right place...

931guru

The 1976 Dodge B200 was especially prone to this problem. It is usually solved by a gallon of gasoline and a match.

tempest411

Check your connections, cables, and starter. Starters will often act act that way when they're on the way out. And if this van is as neglected as most of these seem to be, the battery cables will be suffering from corrosion under the insulation, and the quality of the connections will be even worse. If you check the cables, both + and - end to end with a meter you'll likely see resistance, and anything more than 1/2 Ohm or so is too much. Really, on any vehicle of that age I'd just replace it all if you expect any reliability out of it. That being said, you know this is a Porsche forum, right?

neunfünfeins

Glad to see I'm not the only only who had a 'WTF?!' moment over this...

tempest411

Actually, one of those would be pretty useful for hauling stuff around while keeping it out of the elements. It'd have to be an earlier one for me though. I think the cutoff for smog testing is '75, and the #1 thing I'd with one of those is drop in a a new engine with aftermarket fuel injection.

Voith

Its easy to see why people confuse it for 944 all the time..

thomasmryan

cranking amps lives matter.

mrgreenjeans

Yes, if it isn't resistance in the cables, I would suggest the starter is beginning to 'drag', but these gear reduction starters with a unique high rev / whine to them are known for their durability.....

I have a B100 which looks similar to the photo above, but it's 4 years earlier and came with a 360 & automatic.
A really great 'throwback- in- time machine' with a bronze/cinnamon metallic with white inserts. I got it slightly used ( 60,000 original miles ) from a Convent in dry, western North Dakota. Zero rust and interior is like new......

My only experience with starting issues have been with a dead battery.... which causes me to also state, that if you take out the battery and bring it to an auto parts dealer, they will put a heavy load test on it to check if possibly one of your cells is bad or plates inside have warped or began to sulfate.

Best wishes with the cure......
What do you have for a Porsche that brings you to this page ?

NelaK

I just have to say it... I'm pretty sure that van is what parents warn little kids about.

tempest411

Yeah, you have to get one with windows. I've toyed with getting one of these and outfitting it as a mobile shop and taking it to work. Sometimes at my job I have hours of 'down time', and it'd be cool to be able to walk out to the parking lot and get to business. I bet the engine for my 944 would've been assembled long ago if I did that.

NelaK

I think one of the more modern designs would be better. Like a Mercedes Sprinter with the extra height roof so you can stand up in there.

marc abrams

tempest411

I'm thinking there'd be a wee bit of a price difference between the two. Plus you get that 70s American funky-town design goin' on with it. An old American van would be dirt cheap to work on and insure, too...

tempest411

Awesome! I'll have to look that one up...