Hot engine - no start - Lateral-g Forums

g356gear · #1 08-28-2009, 09:29 PM

On hot days when my bigblock gets up to temp, it does not start. It's not all the time, just occasionally. When it does it, I don't even get a click out of the starter. If I wait 15 minutes, it starts right up. Is this a case of a starter issue or just excessive heat from the headers on the starter that could be answered with an insulator wrap on the starter? Thanks for any feedback.

70rs · #2 08-28-2009, 09:39 PM

It sounds like heat soak to me. Have you tried wrapping the headers or starter? That may take care of it. Or a starter shield may do the trick.

g356gear · #3 08-29-2009, 10:53 PM

I picked up a Thermotec starter wrap today to try. We will see if that does the trick.

**GregWeld** · #4 08-30-2009, 01:11 PM

Yeah --- sounds like heat soak to me too...

A mini starter will give you some more clearance - just don't buy the cheap chinese versions... and some of these allow you to index the solenoid (or clock it as some call it) == and I've seen guys clock this down to the bottom away from the heat/headers.

I was having this issue on my lamely built 37 ford with a super mild 350 SBC -- pulled the starter only to find the studs in the back of the starter AND the solenoid were both loose... put them back in properly (I didn't install or build the car) and everything cranks up just the way it should now.

mrr1999 · #5 08-31-2009, 02:13 PM

Had the same problem with my Camaro and Chevelle. The headers heated up the starter. I switched to a mini starter and clocked it away from the headers and the problem was solved. Hope that helped.

g356gear · #6 09-10-2009, 08:18 AM

I ended up wrapping up the starter with a heat shield and it seems to have worked. Went for a 1hr drive on the weekend and the car started right up after shutting it down for a few minutes.