Alright, I'm sure someone out there can help me here!

I've got an '84 that's been running great, but here's my problem:

It starts fine when cold, but after a long drive where it stays at operating temperature for a while, I get nothing when I turn the key.

If I shut the car off and then try to restart immediately, it will start. But if it sits for about 10-15 seconds, I get nothing.

It all started when I went to pick up some brake pads. When I left the store to go home, the starter would crank very slowly, then die. I did the ol' "smack it with a hammer" routine and that got it to crank once or twice more, but then it would die again. Finally, I went back into the auto parts store and exchanged the pads for a rebuilt starter and heat shield. After getting towed home, I swapped the starter, installed the new heat shield and drove back out to the auto parts store to get my core charge back. When I came back out to leave, it wouldn't start! No click or anything. The 'check engine' and 'brake' light comes on just like normal, but I didn't hear the starter relay click--it's like my ignition switch was disconnected. I got under the car and used my top removal tool to jump the solenoid and got it home. I removed the heat shield, thinking it may have caused a short. The next day, same problem.

So then, I replaced the ignition switch under the dash. I didn't know how old it was, figured it couldn't hurt. The next day, same problem.

The next step was the starter relay under the dash. I bypassed it figuring it may be bad (I had already unplugged the anti-theft module to rule out the security system disabling the starting circuit). Still--same problem.

Next, I inspected the positive battery cable, it was burned on the end, because it was next to the exhaust manifold at one time, figured it may be causing an open somewhere when it got hot, so I replaced it. Still--same problem.

Am I missing something here? I thinking the next step is to buy a new solenoid. I'm afraid that it's the wiring somewhere. It's driving me crazy!!!!

Again, the symptoms are: When at operating temperature, I turn the key, and the starter does nothing. No click, no nothing. Everything else works. I turned on the headlights as well while hitting the starter and they don't go dim.

I'm open to any suggestions and insight! I'd really hate to torch this thing, but I'm almost there!

Thanks.

 

Reading your post ...Started thinking he must have changed the solenoid when he changed the starter. Got to the end, and it says you didn't. That would have been one of the first things I would have changed.

 

I agree with Jon...you should also check the battery as you might have a cell shorting out when it gets hot form charging...just a thought.

 

Thanks for the info. Actually, I got a solenoid with the rebuilt starter, but since it was a rebuilt starter to begin with, perhaps I got a rebuilt solenoid as well--can you even rebuild those?

As far as the battery goes, it sounds like a good suggestion. My only question is that I have good voltage everywhere else. The headlights come on nice and bright, they even stay bright when I hit the starter. Would a bad cell allow that?

Thanks again :cheers:

 

Jump the clutch switch (xmsn selector switch if auto). Measure the volts on the "s" terminal on the starter (start solenoid terminal) and see if has 12 v when you attempt to crank it. If it does, then also measure the volts on the big cable going to the starter, if it does, then measure 12 volts from the starter big cable to the frame of the starter, the starter frame may not be grounded.