OK, I had this problem last summer when I drove the car from Mansfield OH to Wonder Lake IL on a hot August Sunday. It happened again twice the last couple times I drove the car and it was about 80 degrees or hotter. What happens is this: THe car drives and starts fine-real well actually, since I haven't had to do anything-love it! Anyway, if it's pretty hot out, if the cars been running, and at the (likely) max operating temp for a while, if I turn it off, it won't start. All the accessories work, and the charging system/battery/etc. are probably fine. I have started and ran the car numerous times since this happened with no problems. It seems like when it's too hot, I turn the key, and whatever engages once that is done, engages (with a single tiny, almost "popping" noise, right near the driver, so only I can hear it), then nothing. One time recently when this happened I had to wait a half hour for things to cool down, and it started right up, like nothing was the matter. The other instance it took less time and the same thing-I was on my way, no problems. I looked at what I thought was the voltage regulator, (squarish box right up in front of the driver on the firewall where a bunch of wires go) and it seems like that is fairly new. But I don't know if that was even the voltage regulator-newbie, and haven't been able to get the shop manual yet. So, what the heck is going on? o No:
It's in the NEW POST section, no worries :TU: Sounds like your starter solenoid is getting too hot, do you have headers on the car ? A remote solenoid from a Ford will sort this trouble out, or a heat shield between the starter and the exhaust manifold/header. Also: check the connections on the battery and clean them up, and check the cables for cracks or a bad connection to the starter.
Heat soak, it's apretty common problem, especially with headers. Check all your connections at the starter, and battery. Make sure they are clean and tight. If the starter is old, it probably needs to be rebuilt as it is getting tired. You can go the remote solenoid route, or install a mini starter. The mini starter is smaller, and has more air space for cooling it. It also has gear reduction, which makes more torque.
Yup. Sounds like heat soak. If you are really in a bind pop the hood and turn the crank pulley by hand untill you can feel the motor losing some compression. Get back into the car and fire it up.
This works? cool! You mean grab the belt and turn it, or use a breaker bar on the pulley? No headers on the car
This is what worked on my buddy's Chevelle. Once the motor got hot 9 times out of ten it would not start. We would turn it by the crank pulley by hand until the motor lost some compression. Not easy to do. To much initial timing may be aggrivating the problem also. Hope this helps until you can fix the problem.
Hot soaking the starter will cause the difficult starting described. You might try this as well: use a separate switch for the ignition. While the starter is spinning the engine, turn the separate switch on, energizing the ignition. Thois has helped several individuals I have assisted with this condition. Ray
i had a similar problem on my 81 cutlass many years ago. i replaced the solenoid with a new one & the problem persisted. i replaced the starter with a rebuilt one. problem persisted. eventually i replaced the starter with a new one and used the "new solenoid" that i purchased, earlier. problem solved. i then added a heat shield. a friend of my dad's who used to rebuld starters, stated that the manifold had damaged the windings on the starter housing. he had seen the problem many times. the solution was to replace those windings on the housing.
I would go with starter selonoid heat soak. Did alot of research on this last year but it was not the problem, turned out to be the neutral safety switch out of adjustment. Just happen to be hot when it wouldn't start. Summit and year one sell heat resistant starter blankets, heat shields header tape, heavy duty selonoids and starters that can solve this. The wires heat up and won't allow the proper voltage through, causing the spring not to kick out. At least I think that is what happens when the starter heat soaks. Mark
