Won't start again after it's hot
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Parsippany NJ
Won't start again after it's hot
As I get to highway speeds (55-70mph) with my 1978 Pace Car, the tachometer will start "bouncing" between 1500 and about 3000 rpm. The engine doesn't sputter, but it does sound like it's running very rough, with no real loss of speed or pickup. Now, the bad news. If, God forbid, I have stop for gas, or turn the car off for any reason, it will not restart. Turn the key and only the "GEN" light comes on; no turn over, not a sound. After it cools down for an hour and a half or more, it will start again. I've replaced the ignition module inside the distributor, but shortly afterwards, it's back to its evil ways. Anyone have any ideas what's going on here???
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 310
Likes: 25
From: Brisbane Australia
On earlier models at least there was also an additional heat shield bolted between the starter and the block/exhaust. Perhaps check if that is there and add it.
Common theme I found searching on here at the time was to either protect the starter solenoid form the heat soak or replace the starter with one less susceptible.
Common theme I found searching on here at the time was to either protect the starter solenoid form the heat soak or replace the starter with one less susceptible.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Parsippany NJ
Thank you for the advice. Very much appreciated. I found both the wrap and the heat shield available at Eckler's. Looks like it's a DIY after all. I'll get both of them and hope for the best!
Last edited by toothaik; Jul 26, 2015 at 08:03 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,820
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
That would explain the no start issue but the tach bouncing is another matter . The starter would have no effect on the tach malfunction. Sounds like something else going on there , possibly something worn in the distributor. How many miles are on the distributor ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
As I get to highway speeds (55-70mph) with my 1978 Pace Car, the tachometer will start "bouncing" between 1500 and about 3000 rpm. The engine doesn't sputter, but it does sound like it's running very rough, with no real loss of speed or pickup. Now, the bad news. If, God forbid, I have stop for gas, or turn the car off for any reason, it will not restart. Turn the key and only the "GEN" light comes on; no turn over, not a sound. After it cools down for an hour and a half or more, it will start again. I've replaced the ignition module inside the distributor, but shortly afterwards, it's back to its evil ways. Anyone have any ideas what's going on here???
It sounds like a typical bad battery connection. Clean the posts and terminals down to shiny lead and coat the surfaces with NOCO before reassembly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,431
Likes: 298
From: MN-C3, AZ-C7
I had a similar problem with the ignition sensor in the distributor on the left side under the weights. Sorry I cannot remember the correct name. It's a curved piece that bolts down with a heat resistant paste under it. I had two replacements go bad. I purchased a Delco and no problems since. Mine would get hot, stall and I'd have to wait for it to cool.
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Also check the voltage at the HEI connector on the distributor as a last resort....I did ALL the preventative repairs and the problem got worse...it turned out to be corroded terminals in the firewall connector to the fuse block and a 47 year old spliced firewall harness with corroded splices/pinched wiring from previous engine removals.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Parsippany NJ
The distributor has all of 23,000 original miles on it. I replaced the ignition module inside the distributor about a year ago. Everything was fine for a while, but now it's same old story.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
As I get to highway speeds (55-70mph) with my 1978 Pace Car, the tachometer will start "bouncing" between 1500 and about 3000 rpm. The engine doesn't sputter, but it does sound like it's running very rough, with no real loss of speed or pickup. Now, the bad news. If, God forbid, I have stop for gas, or turn the car off for any reason, it will not restart. Turn the key and only the "GEN" light comes on; no turn over, not a sound. After it cools down for an hour and a half or more, it will start again. I've replaced the ignition module inside the distributor, but shortly afterwards, it's back to its evil ways. Anyone have any ideas what's going on here???