77 Vette Hard To Start When Warm
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 2
77 Vette Hard To Start When Warm
I recently found out that when my car is running for a while and the temp gauge is at about 180. If I shut the car off (for example) to get gas, the car cranks very slow. Almost to a point where I have had to let the car cool off for it to start. I have a brand new battery. It starts fine when cold.
Thanks
Jack 1977 C3 L82 Automatic
Thanks
Jack 1977 C3 L82 Automatic
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
when the starter gets hot, it take lots of extra amps to crank the starter, did you get the biggest and baddest battery you could find? I have had 4 different cars with this problem and found that a weinie battery does not solve the issue. get a 1000 CCA battery that will overcome starter heat issues. of sourse make sure your connections and cables are in excellent shape also.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,291
Likes: 492
From: Salmon Arm, BC
These cars are old....lots of time for corrosion to get at those electrical connections. Just follow the cables and inspect the cable ends, and clean each contact. The engine to frame is always suspect (it's right by the starter)
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 209
Likes: 1
From: Denver CO
also depending on how long you park it the excess vapor left in the intake manifold can create a vapor lock situation for the first cranks. The gas in the float of the carb can leak out fairly quickly on a hot day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,232
Likes: 656
From: Thunder Bay
Make sure your battery is healthy, check all your connections to make sure they're tight and clean, and if that doesn't solve the problem, swap in a gear reduction starter from a late model car. You'll save about 20 lbs, and the car will start anytime, anywhere.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 2
The starter is NOS I found last year at a vintage car swap meet in original box. It looked new when I installed it. Not repainted.
Thanks
Jack
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
If you have headers, that adds to the heat soak if that is the problem. Also, check the voltage drop on your battery cables. Just because a cable looks ok and the end terminal is clean, it doesn't guarantee that the cable is still good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,232
Likes: 656
From: Thunder Bay
Battery is healthy, I wheel wire brushed the wire ends or and terminal ends. I just got it to operating temp (about noon on the temp gauge) I shut it for 10 seconds and when I tried to start it it cranked real slow for 3 cranks and then whoom.
The starter is NOS I found last year at a vintage car swap meet in original box. It looked new when I installed it. Not repainted.
Thanks
Jack
The starter is NOS I found last year at a vintage car swap meet in original box. It looked new when I installed it. Not repainted.
Thanks
Jack
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: lafayette indiana
i agree the starter could be the problem but u did not say who much timing u are running,u might want to try warming car until hard to start and then backing off the timing a few degrees and see what happens
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
eliminate the easier possiblity before you run out and spend money buying new starters... If the problem appears when the engine is warm and it is slow cranking which is what the op posted, then it is not that the starter can't handle it...
do you have headers?
do you have headers?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 2
No headers stock exhaust
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
I would get one of these before you go and get some of the more expensive options.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-350118/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-350118/
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 609
Likes: 8
From: Round Rock TX
I had a very similar problem with my 77 years and years ago. It was bone stock down to the wires. I could start it cold and drive it all over. The minute I turned it off and then tried to restart it. Nothing. It would click and try to turn over but was very weak. I still had the original style plug wires on it that ran down from the dist. and back up from underneath. I found that I had a couple of plug wires that were worn out and broken. I replaced them and never had a problem again.
The problem was when the wires got hot from the engine heat the internal wire would separate and not make contact. But once the wire cooled down the internal wire would make enough contact for the car to start.
Have you checked your plug wires?
The problem was when the wires got hot from the engine heat the internal wire would separate and not make contact. But once the wire cooled down the internal wire would make enough contact for the car to start.
Have you checked your plug wires?
