Car doesn't want to start when engine is hot?

ciara · 09-12-2002, 10:21 AM

I took my car to the track for the first time last night. Once the engine got up to temp. if I had to shut it off or turn it off it did not want to start again. Ended up overheating and blowing a hole in the catch can since I had to let it run in the staging lanes. The battery is 800 cold cranking amps. Questions:
1. Is the battery big enough?
2. Could the starter be getting too hot?
3. Do I need a shield for the starter?
4. Do I need some of that header wrap stuff?

The car is an 84 GT with a 351 windsor.
Could somebody pass on some info if they have had this problem?

Thanks

tireburner163 · 09-12-2002, 10:42 AM

It's very possable you could be heat soaking your starter. Try installing a heat shield on it.

Maroon 5.0 LX · 09-12-2002, 11:30 AM

What do you mean, "Car doesn't want to start when engine is hot?"

Turns over slow as with a low battery?

Won't turn over?

Turns over normal, but won't fire?

95mustanggt · 09-12-2002, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maroon 5.0 LX
What do you mean, "Car doesn't want to start when engine is hot?"

Turns over slow as with a low battery?

Won't turn over?

Turns over normal, but won't fire?

Yep, please explain more.

Tony Frank · 09-12-2002, 12:25 PM

i think i know what ya mean. the starter grabs the flywheel but seems that there isnt enough juice to turn it over.

dont mess with a heat shield....get a high torque starter. it takes care of the prob... that and it is sooo much smoother cranking a 10 to 1 comp motor

Barry Jackson · 09-12-2002, 12:33 PM

Yep, had the problem. Have a 351 in an 87 LX. The problem is the starter is too close to the header. We put a shield on the starter, wrapped the header and use a 1000 amp battery. It does a pretty good job. When I replace the AOD with a c4 the starter should move farther from the header and help even more.

Good Luck

bigblockcoupe · 09-12-2002, 01:58 PM

yeah it's the starter get the '93 hi torque starter and install it you will have to run a wire from the solenoid on the inner fender to the solenoid on top of the new starter.

WheelsUp · 09-14-2002, 07:17 PM

I had something of the same problem in my 90 LX hatch,it would run for awhile then would not start back up,after changing the starter,battery,and a few other things I found out what it was.

I have had the car since it was brand new,and a friend suggested it might be the cables running to the starter ,when they get old the insulation goes bad in them,there is no indication of this,until you can get it off the car.

I would change the cable both pos and neg cables running to the starter and the ground,heck it does not hurt,it is cheap,and the only worse thing is you might get a little greasy.

jim_howard_pdx · 09-15-2002, 12:16 AM

Clara,

I am having the same problem in my 351 Windsor 1966 stang. I made a shield of fiberglass insulation and an outer aluminum cover and that helps a little. I would like to know what you find out in your pursuit.

By the way, we push our car through the line to the staging area, so the car has at least 30 minutes to cool down between runs. This seems to make the start up really easy.

You might be jetted rich or lean. I was originally running 67 jets on my Holley 750, and ended up going to 65's, which cut down my temperature. Go figure, I thought running rich would make the engine cooler.

What are you running. I hit 13.9 last night at 100 mph with 3.25 gears. With slicks and 4.57's I figure to hit somewhere in the 13.3 to 13.4 range or even faster if I run a strip type torque converter on my C4.

Good luck racing!

Jim

Barry Jackson · 09-16-2002, 08:36 AM

I am running 76 in the primary and 80 in the secondary on my holley. Also have a 50cc pump. Feel I can probably go 78 in the primary from the looks of the plugs. The holley is a vacumn unit, running the spring for about 2300 rpm secondary pull.
Jetting didn't do anything for the starting aspect. Hopefully a c4 will move the starter farther away from the headers.

82 GT · 09-16-2002, 02:53 PM

I used to have the same problem on my '82gt. I bought a starter for a 93GT and that works pretty well. It's still a little sluggish when it get's hot. I'm going to try to insulate the starter wire because it runs down through that area and see if that helps.
Where could a get a heat shield for a 351w?

Barry Jackson · 09-16-2002, 04:05 PM

My heat sheild is just a homemade one. Not sure about were to purchase one.

CRocks.sclx · 09-18-2002, 07:25 PM

It could be the starter or the battery. I got screwed by the battery once before. 800 CCA's is plenty big enough. Have your battery tested at a parts store. Also, if possible, do a voltage drop test between the starter and battery. If unsure how to do this--volt meter on volts, one lead on the positive cable at the battery and the other lead on the positive cable on the starter. THe voltage should drop to approx .5 volts. Anything higher is a bad batt cable. Do the same on the ground side.
And how close are your headers to the starter. The high torque starters work great for higher comp engines but if the starter is close to the exhaust, some shield should be used. Any more questions-email me

09-12-2002, 10:21 AM	#1
ciara Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 100	Car doesn't want to start when engine is hot? I took my car to the track for the first time last night. Once the engine got up to temp. if I had to shut it off or turn it off it did not want to start again. Ended up overheating and blowing a hole in the catch can since I had to let it run in the staging lanes. The battery is 800 cold cranking amps. Questions: 1. Is the battery big enough? 2. Could the starter be getting too hot? 3. Do I need a shield for the starter? 4. Do I need some of that header wrap stuff? The car is an 84 GT with a 351 windsor. Could somebody pass on some info if they have had this problem? Thanks

09-12-2002, 10:42 AM	#2
tireburner163 It's a lot like a race car Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 4,130	It's very possable you could be heat soaking your starter. Try installing a heat shield on it. __________________ 1987 Buick T-type 1998 HD Electra Elide

09-12-2002, 11:30 AM	#3
Maroon 5.0 LX Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 471	What do you mean, "Car doesn't want to start when engine is hot?" Turns over slow as with a low battery? Won't turn over? Turns over normal, but won't fire? __________________ '89 LX 5.0 - 5 speed. Original Owner '94 E-150 4.9 Hi-Top Conversion Van '06 Mustang V-6, 5 speed

09-12-2002, 12:25 PM	#5
Tony Frank Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Brooklyn originally, but Grand Rapids now Posts: 309	i think i know what ya mean. the starter grabs the flywheel but seems that there isnt enough juice to turn it over. dont mess with a heat shield....get a high torque starter. it takes care of the prob... that and it is sooo much smoother cranking a 10 to 1 comp motor __________________ Grand Valley State University Senior Accounting and Finance Major 1985 Mustang GT 19,000 ORIGINAL miles, E-303 cam, edelbrock performer RPM intake, holley 600 cfm carb, MAC headers, windage tray, 8.8 rear end with 4.10 gears, 4"cowl hood, 5lug conversion, 04 Mach1 wheels. http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?1501

09-12-2002, 12:33 PM	#6
Barry Jackson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Pitts. Pa. USA Posts: 61	not starting Yep, had the problem. Have a 351 in an 87 LX. The problem is the starter is too close to the header. We put a shield on the starter, wrapped the header and use a 1000 amp battery. It does a pretty good job. When I replace the AOD with a c4 the starter should move farther from the header and help even more. Good Luck

09-12-2002, 01:58 PM	#7
bigblockcoupe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: broken arrow Posts: 212	yeah it's the starter get the '93 hi torque starter and install it you will have to run a wire from the solenoid on the inner fender to the solenoid on top of the new starter. __________________ Rice Haters Club member #68 '93 Cobra 10.20@135 '89 Gt Coupe 12.20@115

09-14-2002, 07:17 PM	#8
WheelsUp Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: At The Track Posts: 20	different route I had something of the same problem in my 90 LX hatch,it would run for awhile then would not start back up,after changing the starter,battery,and a few other things I found out what it was. I have had the car since it was brand new,and a friend suggested it might be the cables running to the starter ,when they get old the insulation goes bad in them,there is no indication of this,until you can get it off the car. I would change the cable both pos and neg cables running to the starter and the ground,heck it does not hurt,it is cheap,and the only worse thing is you might get a little greasy. __________________ Come to the Track you might learn something

09-15-2002, 12:16 AM	#9
jim_howard_pdx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 247	Hot start Problems Clara, I am having the same problem in my 351 Windsor 1966 stang. I made a shield of fiberglass insulation and an outer aluminum cover and that helps a little. I would like to know what you find out in your pursuit. By the way, we push our car through the line to the staging area, so the car has at least 30 minutes to cool down between runs. This seems to make the start up really easy. You might be jetted rich or lean. I was originally running 67 jets on my Holley 750, and ended up going to 65's, which cut down my temperature. Go figure, I thought running rich would make the engine cooler. What are you running. I hit 13.9 last night at 100 mph with 3.25 gears. With slicks and 4.57's I figure to hit somewhere in the 13.3 to 13.4 range or even faster if I run a strip type torque converter on my C4. Good luck racing! Jim __________________ 1966 Customized for daily street and highway domination. 358 Windsor running 425 HP C-4 Auto and 3.25 Posi

09-16-2002, 08:36 AM	#10
Barry Jackson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Pitts. Pa. USA Posts: 61	351 running hot I am running 76 in the primary and 80 in the secondary on my holley. Also have a 50cc pump. Feel I can probably go 78 in the primary from the looks of the plugs. The holley is a vacumn unit, running the spring for about 2300 rpm secondary pull. Jetting didn't do anything for the starting aspect. Hopefully a c4 will move the starter farther away from the headers.

09-16-2002, 02:53 PM	#11
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	I used to have the same problem on my '82gt. I bought a starter for a 93GT and that works pretty well. It's still a little sluggish when it get's hot. I'm going to try to insulate the starter wire because it runs down through that area and see if that helps. Where could a get a heat shield for a 351w? __________________ '82 GT 351W (.060)Comp Cams 274* Extreme Energy cam, ported & polished heads w/ 1.94/1.60 valves 10.3:1 flat top pistons,stealth intake, Mallory dizzy,Holley 750dp carb, BBK shorties,Flowmaster exhaust,C-4 with 3700 stall converter, B&M pro shifter,8.8 rear, 4:10's, subframes, electric fan, powermaster alternator, 4 core radiator.

09-16-2002, 04:05 PM	#12
Barry Jackson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Pitts. Pa. USA Posts: 61	heat-starting My heat sheild is just a homemade one. Not sure about were to purchase one.

09-18-2002, 07:25 PM	#13
CRocks.sclx Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Columbus,OH Posts: 13	It could be the starter or the battery. I got screwed by the battery once before. 800 CCA's is plenty big enough. Have your battery tested at a parts store. Also, if possible, do a voltage drop test between the starter and battery. If unsure how to do this--volt meter on volts, one lead on the positive cable at the battery and the other lead on the positive cable on the starter. THe voltage should drop to approx .5 volts. Anything higher is a bad batt cable. Do the same on the ground side. And how close are your headers to the starter. The high torque starters work great for higher comp engines but if the starter is close to the exhaust, some shield should be used. Any more questions-email me

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