weird starting problems....[help!]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Wainwright Alberta
weird starting problems....[help!]
Okay, this has happened 4 times to me already this spring....arg!
I'll be driving the car around for the while, turning it off, starting etc. then after a bit of driving I'll turn it off, go back to start it and it won't start. It doesn't try to turn over, there's no ticking from the starter, the battery is good. When I turn the key there is just nothing. If i let the car sit for 15-30mins then come back and try it, it'll start fine.
Any ideas?
I'll be driving the car around for the while, turning it off, starting etc. then after a bit of driving I'll turn it off, go back to start it and it won't start. It doesn't try to turn over, there's no ticking from the starter, the battery is good. When I turn the key there is just nothing. If i let the car sit for 15-30mins then come back and try it, it'll start fine.
Any ideas?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Are all your grounding straps in place (and clean)? There should be one going from the starter to the chassis.
I was having intermittent starting problems. Replaced the battery ground cable, the starter ground cable (and eventually the starter...to a hi-torque mini-starter). All's well.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
I was having intermittent starting problems. Replaced the battery ground cable, the starter ground cable (and eventually the starter...to a hi-torque mini-starter). All's well.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Wainwright Alberta
Originally Posted by Gordonm
If you have headers it is probably heat soak. The starter might also be weak. A mini starter solved my problem of heat soak.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
i had the same problem with my 79 years ago. very frustrating, i know. tried everything. new starter, new battery, new cables, heat shield, etc. etc.
finally put in a starter relay (ford type). this TOTALLY solved the problem. heat from headers apparently reduces ability of wiring to conduct current (what one post calls "heat soak"). starter relay "bypasses" most of the ignition circuit and allows enough current to go directly to the starter on hot start up. you might try it. they're not expensive and completely eliminated this problem for me (Summit sells them).
good luck.
finally put in a starter relay (ford type). this TOTALLY solved the problem. heat from headers apparently reduces ability of wiring to conduct current (what one post calls "heat soak"). starter relay "bypasses" most of the ignition circuit and allows enough current to go directly to the starter on hot start up. you might try it. they're not expensive and completely eliminated this problem for me (Summit sells them).
good luck.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Yes the heat increases the resistance of the selonoid and wiring. With more resistance you do not get full power to the starter and you don't get the starter to turn over. A remote selonoid will work but a mini starter provides more torque and is smaller and lighter. A heat sheild will sometimes work also. I have had 4 cars with headers and the mini starter has worked the best.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Wainwright Alberta
thanks guys....I'll try cleaning up some connections and see if that makea a difference.
I'm still not sure if it could be heat soak because this happened on time on a cool evening...I went out for dinner, and after probably 60mins I went to start the car and it wouldn't start. Then I came back about 2hrs later and it started. Would it really take that long for heat soak to go away?
I'm still not sure if it could be heat soak because this happened on time on a cool evening...I went out for dinner, and after probably 60mins I went to start the car and it wouldn't start. Then I came back about 2hrs later and it started. Would it really take that long for heat soak to go away?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,286
Likes: 4
From: Guam
Yes, heat soak is a common problem on the C3. I used to carry a gallon of water to throw on the starter and surrounding wires when this would happen. Now years later, and a few brain cells smarter, I made a heat shield out of aluminum to deflect some of the heat away. Try to route all wires away from the headers and use as thin a sheet of aluminum or steel as possible. A mini starter replacement also works.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Kilmarnock AYRSHIRE
If its an auto and you get nothing when you try to turn it over check out the the drive selecter contacts .
It happened to me today - the contact was all bent out of shape and the guide had worked loose.
Hope you find the problem
It happened to me today - the contact was all bent out of shape and the guide had worked loose.
Hope you find the problem