Starter heat soak with headers
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 15
From: Brick- Next to the land of Mojo NJ
Starter heat soak with headers
Experiencing starter heat soak in my 1991 L98/ ZF6.
Starter will not turn over when car is hot.
I hear solenoid engagin.
Anyone experience this and have a cure?
If I remember correctly, I had this problem with an IROC Camaro about 15 years ago. Never solved it then either.
Thanks in advance.
Starter will not turn over when car is hot.
I hear solenoid engagin.
Anyone experience this and have a cure?
If I remember correctly, I had this problem with an IROC Camaro about 15 years ago. Never solved it then either.
Thanks in advance.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 96
From: Magnolia Tx
When i installed headers on my '86 i replaced the starter (non-original, unknown vintage) with a starter from a '95 model. This created plenty of clearance and i've had no heat soak issues. What style starter does your car have. '91 is "supposed" to have the smaller starter but my buddy's '91 had an old style, huge, almost touched the pipes, boat anchor. It now has a later model, no issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
A cheap *** metal heatshield to create an air gap around it if it is the small one will pretty much solve it. On the 67 no matter what I do it still does it though. The collector is about 4 inches from that one though...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
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You also need a battery that's @ 100%
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jun 9, 2018 at 11:39 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
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If the OE/'denso is still there 'maintenance' , battery, cables and the SER circuit checks. After checking all, if starter is an after-market reman then maybe you consider a starter replacement. It would be I think the last resort.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 336
Likes: 93
From: San Antonio TX
This was a common problem on 70s muscle cars (I had a 1970 442 with this problem). Heat shield didn't work, new starter only worked for a few months. What fixed it permanently was a kit to relocate the relay portion of the starter solenoid to a cooler location (the fender well in my case).
Steve
Steve
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
This was a common problem on 70s muscle cars (I had a 1970 442 with this problem). Heat shield didn't work, new starter only worked for a few months. What fixed it permanently was a kit to relocate the relay portion of the starter solenoid to a cooler location (the fender well in my case).
Steve
Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
I believe your 'denso just needs some 'maintenance' !! You don't need a shield and I don't know that there is a shield for the 'denso. You also need to check cable condition 'not' limited to just battery terminals, if your + cable has the slip-on protector with a 'ring-terminal' beneath it give it attention also.
You also need a battery that's @ 100%
You also need a battery that's @ 100%
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 128
Likes: 25
From: Avon Lake Ohio
Experiencing starter heat soak in my 1991 L98/ ZF6.
Starter will not turn over when car is hot.
I hear solenoid engagin.
Anyone experience this and have a cure?
If I remember correctly, I had this problem with an IROC Camaro about 15 years ago. Never solved it then either.
Thanks in advance.
Starter will not turn over when car is hot.
I hear solenoid engagin.
Anyone experience this and have a cure?
If I remember correctly, I had this problem with an IROC Camaro about 15 years ago. Never solved it then either.
Thanks in advance.
Tim from DEI here. We offer a couple of versions of starter wrap that work really well. We offer the full size GM starter wrap under pat number 010402 and a mini starter wrap under part number 010384. We sell tons of these with great results on just about everyone that is having solenoid or heat soak issues. They have hook and loop strips for easy installation. Some guys will use our stainless steel locking ties as an extra securing method. As far as header wrap, I suggest our Titanium wrap check out kit number 010095 between the starter shield and the header wrap this should fix the issues you are having. Also, when wrapping headers as long as they are coated, painted or stainless you should not see any rust. Bare steel, water and oxygen cause rust not header wrap. Header wrap is over top of your exhaust system that typically runs between 400-800 degrees Fahrenheit. So unless you drive your car thru a swamp or car wash and then park it immediately any water on the wrap will burn off almost immediately. No different than an unwrapped pipe getting wet. For any questions feel free to reach out to me or visit www.designengineering.com
Thank you, Tim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
Agree/disagree.
My 408cid HiPerf had this issue. Lessons learned:
1) starter blanket kept the heat in the starter real well,
2) relo of solenoid did not help,
3) header wrap (painted) did not ruin my headers, in 10 years of use.
4) HiTorque (IMI) starter was my solution (American made, too).
YMMV
My 408cid HiPerf had this issue. Lessons learned:
1) starter blanket kept the heat in the starter real well,
2) relo of solenoid did not help,
3) header wrap (painted) did not ruin my headers, in 10 years of use.
4) HiTorque (IMI) starter was my solution (American made, too).
YMMV
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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Ain't a 'race car problem' - likely a quality part problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 336
From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
Hi.. The Chevy Silverado's from about 99ish to 05ish (those are the ones I have seen anyway, may run newer or older?) have a totally universal looking shield over the solenoid area. It just clips into place covers the solenoid to dissipate heat like a sink.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
That being said it is the summit in house starter but I've talked to a lot of people and they've all had good luck with them but I never have luck with anything... The selection I have is also limited because of the 166 tooth flexplate... May try another brand depending on what summit says. (And others)
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Well, the collector touched the non gear reduction starter and is about 3 inches away from the mini... I think it is just a bad design tbh. (Even though they're direct fit headers...)
That being said it is the summit in house starter but I've talked to a lot of people and they've all had good luck with them but I never have luck with anything... The selection I have is also limited because of the 166 tooth flexplate... May try another brand depending on what summit says. (And others)
That being said it is the summit in house starter but I've talked to a lot of people and they've all had good luck with them but I never have luck with anything... The selection I have is also limited because of the 166 tooth flexplate... May try another brand depending on what summit says. (And others)
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jun 11, 2018 at 09:03 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
No it's a pontiac, I'd have fixed the chevy by now lol. It just isn't well laid out at all imo. (I work on a lot of peoples crap... this one is just very wild...) If it were mine I wouldn't be so worried but like I don't need my aunt getting stuck somewhere when I'm at work or at school you know? My cousins are good but they won't push a car a quarter mile down the road if they had to... I treat this thing like it is my own.