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[ltgland]

Dudes,

After a drive of over 30 minutes, after I shut down the car (or it stalls, in the case of the wife!), the stater will NOT turn over until about an hour later. Any ideas as to why. just a fekking click....

on the plus side. I ran a second ground cable from chassis to engien. My voltmeter reading in now at 13V, the temp guage now now longer reads red before the fan comes on, and the fuel reading looks about right. yay.

[Smoothie]

Sounds like heat soak is disabling a tired old starter. Solenoid might be ok. Personally, I'd try disassembling the starter to see if it's gummed up in there and just needs a cleaning - or if there are some electrical contacts needing cleaning. Other than that, it might just be time to throw in the towel and replace it.

If you're going to try cleaning it, might as well try to do the solenoid also. The screws holding the solenoid are tough to remove though. I used a large screwdriver in combination with visegrips pliers with the starter held in a bench vise. Obviously, if you don't have these things, it'll have to go to a shop.

[ This Message was edited by: Smoothie on 2002-06-19 00:30 ]

[Ants]

If it helps i noticed that Halfords do boxed recon starter motors around the £100 mark.

Didn't look t see if there was a suitable one (i was looking for a rotor arm and dist. cap at the time), but its worth a look.

Ants

[ltgland]

I can pick up a recon motor for about £60-£70 + VAT, so buying a new one isnt a problem. When I got the car, it stated new starter, so I figure it SHOULD be ok (ha, guy probably lied!)

[Richard]

Heat soak is a condition where the electrical resistance in the coils of the solonoid goes up due to heat. If this is so, there are special little insulating covers made for starters to help prevent this, ask around. I don't know if they are available on your side of the pond, but I have a source in U.S. In the new spirit of not giving advice without trying it first I will provide a disclaimer: I have never tried it.
I have heard that people have poured cold water on starter to get going again. Don't crack the hot block though!

[Smoothie]

I have one of those insulating covers and tried it when I had a similar problem with my starter. In my case, it was the solenoid that was gummed up and wouldn't operate when hot. The cover didn't help in my case. It'll help keep heat from the exhaust away from the starter, but you'll still have heat soak coming through from the metal to metal contact of the starter with the engine, so the cover would also be counter productive - holding in that heat.

[Ants]

You could always aim a bit of ducting towards it from the valance grills. It wouldn't help if you were stationary tho'

Ants