Chrysler Repair: 1985 5th ave- hard to start, starter motor repair, jumper cables

Question
i am having a problem with my fifth avenue. it has a 318 engine, and a carbeurated fuel system. when i try to start it, it cranks VERY slow, and my battery often goes dead before it will finally start. if i hook it up to a battery charger, it gets closer to starting, but not quite there. if i hook up jumper cables, after a while, usually i can get it to start. my battery is less than a year old, and has i believe 810 cranking amps at 32' and 650 cca. it used to crank over and start fairly easy, but now i can barely get 1 or 2 cranks out of it before the battery is dead. also, i don't know if it is relevant, but if i keep trying to start it, the ground wire and negative cable on the battery smokes somewhat. is this normal? i am wondering if the starter is going bad, or if it is possibly the fuel pump. i am leaning more toward the starter, as the car doesn't stall while driving or going up hills,etc. what is the easiest way to remove the starter and/or to test it, so i can go on to further troubleshooting if needed. also, can you tell me where the fuel pump is located? is it in the gas tank? thank you so much for your help. :)

Answer
Hi Christa,
I put the copies in the mail this afternoon for 5 pm  pickup so you should get them quickly. I notice that the previously answered questions log doesn't show your address.
Roland


Hi Christa,
It does sound to me like the starter motor is wearing to the point of needing rebuilding. It can be tested at a starter motor repair shop to see how much current it is drawing when you try and start it and that should be around 180 to 200 amps is the engine is warmed up. It the motor is off the engine it should draw about 90 amps in what is called "free running" configuration. I think your choices are two: remove the starter and take it to a starter repair shop, or drive it there if you can do so and let them test it and if necessary remove and rebuild it there. I have found it more economical to remove it myself and bring it to the shop, but then you need a ride to the shop. I have found that in fairly large cities you will find a shop that specializes in starter motor/alternator rebuiiding and these are the experts and they always charge less than if you go to a dealer or a general repair shop. I prefer to have my original motor rebuilt than to buy a commercial rebuilt one from a parts store. It appears pretty easy to remove the starter if you have some tools and don't mind getting greasy. Can you find the starter motor yourself; it appears to be on the left side of the engine near the rear, but fairly low (underneath the exhaust manifold) so you might have to get at it from underneath?
On the fuel pump, that is driven by the engine itself and it appears to be mounted on the right side near the front. If you look for the fuel line to the carb, you can trace it back to find where the fuel pump is. I doubt the fuel pump is your problem, but rather the starter motor from what you describe.
I am working with an '83 rear wheel drive Chrysler shop manual which is probably accurate for your 318 '85 model. If you want some of the pages about removing the starter let me know. Give me a postal mailing address and I'll xerox and mail them to you.  To test the starter requires a piece of test equipment which is not worth buying, but rather best handled at the rebuilder shop.
Roland