Mini Starter Burned
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 6
From: Palm PA
Mini Starter Burned
Last week on our way to Ocean City MD, 125 miles from home, my 2 week old mini starter burned up when I stopped to get gas. I think the heat from the headers caused the solenoid to stick and the starter was turning with the key off. Talk about a sick feeling. By the time I cleared the luggage from the back to disconnect the battery it was too late. There was a garage next door with a starter and a mechanic. The starter manufacturer is sending a refund so the outcome isn't that bad. Next project REMOTE BATTERY DISCONNECT SWITCH !! 
68 Vetteman
68 Vetteman
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 255
Likes: 3
Just curious but do you have a heat shield around your starter? I use a standard starter and I also have headers. Your post gives me another reason to worry. I traveled to OC last weekend as well which is a 175 mile trip one way for me. Luckily I had no issues. I only take it on a trip like that once a year. Ive been also thinking about the starter heat wrap that summit sells just to keep heat away.
Where do you plan on putting your disconnect?
Rodney
Where do you plan on putting your disconnect?
Rodney
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 6
From: Palm PA
Just curious but do you have a heat shield around your starter? I use a standard starter and I also have headers. Your post gives me another reason to worry. I traveled to OC last weekend as well which is a 175 mile trip one way for me. Luckily I had no issues. I only take it on a trip like that once a year. Ive been also thinking about the starter heat wrap that summit sells just to keep heat away.
Where do you plan on putting your disconnect?
Rodney
Where do you plan on putting your disconnect?
Rodney
68 Vetteman
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I had one self destruct on a friends car I was doing the work on. It was only a few starts old and it stuck in and was spinning. The car shut off but it was on the alignment rack. We push started it and I got it home no problem. Here is what was left of it after I removed it. Replaced it with a GM mini starter and it is still going fine. Just a bad one
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 6
From: Palm PA
I had one self destruct on a friends car I was doing the work on. It was only a few starts old and it stuck in and was spinning. The car shut off but it was on the alignment rack. We push started it and I got it home no problem. Here is what was left of it after I removed it. Replaced it with a GM mini starter and it is still going fine. Just a bad one
68 Vetteman
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Hi
Strange that a starter motor burn out with only 1 battery charge.
I had several unsuccessful starting attempts draining the battery with the starter when I worked on the car without any starter failures.
A battery is rather fast drained having a starter motor sucking the amps out.
Oh, the battery disconnect switch is mounted on the battery negative stud. Easily accessible by just grabbing with the right hand backwards.
I disconnect it whenever I stop the car, also for refueling.
Rgds. Günther
Strange that a starter motor burn out with only 1 battery charge.
I had several unsuccessful starting attempts draining the battery with the starter when I worked on the car without any starter failures.
A battery is rather fast drained having a starter motor sucking the amps out.
Oh, the battery disconnect switch is mounted on the battery negative stud. Easily accessible by just grabbing with the right hand backwards.
I disconnect it whenever I stop the car, also for refueling.
Rgds. Günther
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 862
Likes: 9
From: Communist party of MD
Had a mini-starter that was only a few starts old go bad. It was on a trailer and luckily it started before so I could load it up on my rental trailer.
I'm sticking with a standard starter from now on...
I'm sticking with a standard starter from now on...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 6
From: Palm PA
68 Vetteman
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Hi
I now remember that my 1st mini starter ( from Summit ) burned out on the first starting attempt, actually the solenoid burned up.
Summit replaced it instantly without any hesitation and the 2nd one is now OK for several years already. ( great customer service ).
So may be this mini starters ( at least the cheap units ) do have some flaws. But you can't beat the price. Could actually have a spare for what they are sold for.
Rgds. Günther
I now remember that my 1st mini starter ( from Summit ) burned out on the first starting attempt, actually the solenoid burned up.
Summit replaced it instantly without any hesitation and the 2nd one is now OK for several years already. ( great customer service ).
So may be this mini starters ( at least the cheap units ) do have some flaws. But you can't beat the price. Could actually have a spare for what they are sold for.
Rgds. Günther
