Getting Hot
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Whitwell Tennessee
Getting Hot
My stock 69, 427 has a problem. After driving for say 30 minutes, I will stop and turn off ignition. When trying to restart, it will not turn over or make any sounds at all. After about 30 minutes it will start with no problem. The battery is good. Could the starter be the problem? The problem is much more pronounced in the heat of the summer.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Heat shouldn't affect the starter at all. The starter solenoid might get hot and bind up, so that it can't send any power to the starter...but the starter is unlikely to be your problem.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 205
From: Lewes Delaware
Had the same problem on my 73. Replaced the solenoid, cleaned all connections between starter, solenoid and battery, made sure wires to solenoid were done correctly (the R& S were reversed) and made sure battery was getting a full charge from the alternator. Problem solved.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
Heat sinking. The starter gets so hot it wont work. Happens to every Chevy V8 I own. Either buy a high torque mini starter (179 bucks from Napa), replace the starter with a fresh one (problem will come back) or but the asbestos starter blanket for about 30 bucks. I went with the blanket because I wasnt ready to replace the starter yet...the blanket seems to work just fine.
Advanced
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: Westby Wisconsin
Yep Scottd nailed it- Heat sink issue there. And it's probably not a problem if you try to start it say a couple min after parking and shutting it down... The big block in the small engine bay doesn't allow alot of airflow either.
Find a way to keep it cool and the problem should go away...
Good luck with it man-
Find a way to keep it cool and the problem should go away...
Good luck with it man-
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Exactly what in the starter gets so hot that it won't work? The brushes? The commutator? The windings? The bearings? Other than those, there is nothing else turning. If something in the starter is defective, maybe... Otherwise, no way the problem is with the starter, [IMO].
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,333
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Heat and the solenoid don't get along well.
Does it sound like it's engaging (kicking out the gear) and not turning or turning really slow? or not even kicking out the gear?
Make sure at the very least the factory heat shield is in place. (it shields the solenoid not the starter)
And that the battery cables are good, especially the ground to frame.
While I agree that it's probably the solenoid, when the actual started gets hot (like most electric things) it will draw more and if your connections aren't up to snuff it might not be able to handle it.
Mooser
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,728
Likes: 705
From: Shelton, Connecticut
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I believe the solenoid coil probably increases in resistance during the heat soak while the car is running. It then becomes unable to develop enough force to overcome the spring to actuate the arm to throw out the starter gear.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
If you know how, you can rebuild a starter real cheap, depending on what needs replaced. I have been rebuilding them since I was 19, and that's over 40 years ago. Now don't ask me to work on anything new, no experience there.