Hot start issues?

[King Fisher]

Nick went on the Dawn Raid today, up around the dales. He pulled over for some fuel in Harrogate, after around 5 hours of hooning, and the car failed to start; the starter wouldn't turn over. Is this a hot start issue, or more likely to be a physically loose connection? The car starts first time now.

[GreenV8S]

Dead starter motor when it's hot and back to normal when it has cooled off is the classic 'hot start' problem.

[mikel003003]

So how is it cured,solanoid ?

[King Fisher]

GreenV8S said:

Dead starter motor when it's hot and back to normal when it has cooled off is the classic 'hot start' problem.

So there is the problem. Why now though? Is it just as it's getting older and older?

[GreenV8S]

The starter motors suffer from heat/dirt/corrosion and get mechanically stiffer to operate. This can be heat sensitive as things expand and clearances change, and electrics tend not to work as well when they're really hot. The problem typically gets worse and worse until eventually the thing just won't start. Usually, a reconditioned starter motor is all you need. I'd advise fitting a heat shield to protect it from exhaust heat, it'll help the replacement last longer. If the battery is weak, it'll make this problem worse. So if the battery is weak, replacing it may cure the symptoms for a while. You may also have a poor supply to the starter motor solenoid. The V8S/Griffith/Chimaera suffered from this due to poor wiring harness design, and it can also happen due to corroded electrics. In that case cleaning up all the electrical connections and/or upgrading the harness may cure the symptoms.

I think in practice it is usually caused by a combination of factors and it's best to try to address all of them.