Hot start problem

[m3coupe]

Hi guys, i'm sure i've read something on this before but I can't find it using the search function.

Last night had about an hours drive home. Dropped the girlfriend off at her house, gave her a hand taking some stuff up to her flat, went back to the car and it wouldn't start. Was only away for about 10 mins or so. Was turning over fine but wasn't catching.

Left it for about another 5 minutes or so and it started begrudgingly but drove fine all the way home.

Starts first turn of the key when it's cold and to be fair to it, this is the first time it's never wanted to start whether hot or cold.

Anyone got any ideas?

[24heuresdemans]

Had the same problem. Nightmare to start when hot, or not at all. Fine when cold. Invested in an Optima Red Top battery. Loads of cranking power (815 CCA). Problem sorted. Whether or not the starter is a bit tired Im not sure, but for now all systems go. Did have to modify the battery mounts though.

[m3coupe]

The battery voltage did drop on cranking for a while, went to about 9.8 and got a warning. It was turning over fine, thinking the starter may be losing it a bit. Probably where i'll start frist and work from there.

[Beety]

had this on my t350 found it was a bad earth to chassis i added an extra earth strap been 100% reliable since.

[boardinscotland]

Had the same problem recently and had already got a new starter and battery (very powerful one) when the engine was rebuilt. Basically I would stop the car for 10 mins and go back to it and it would turn over but never catch. Would leave it for 15 mins and then it would start. Ended up replacing the HT leads to Magnacors and all seems fine now. Basically due to the heat soak it had damaged the leads.

G

Edited by boardinscotland on Thursday 14th May 20:44

[infinity]

vapour lock may be?

[PetrolHeadPete]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...


Might help
Mines been top bannana for nearly a year now, hot or cold. Also fitted a bigger CCA battery to help.

[m3coupe]

Little update with some more symptoms since i've been on holiday for the past week.

Got into the car on Saturday for the first time since the problem, car started no bother. Stopped off at the shops for a drink, about 5 mins down the road, when starting again was fine. Picked up the girlfriend another 5 minutes away, starter was quite lazy as if battery power was down. Another 10 minute drive, stopped for 5 minutes and when i came out was as if the battery was dead. Voltage dropped to about 6 on the display and the starter turned and no more but again fired, (just). Parked the car up for the night, went back to it the following morning and it started first turn of the key with the voltage up to it's normal 12 volts.

Anyone got any further ideas from those symptoms?

[PetrolHeadPete]

just like mine used to be
Upgrade starter and battery and all fixed now
Actually did starter first and this alone did the trick
Battery was done about 3months later to complete the job
Amazing how it would just die when hot...very embarassing!
The original starter just ain't up to it...from a bmw 316!
Bigger one is from an M5

[m3coupe]

PetrolHeadPete said:

just like mine used to be
Upgrade starter and battery and all fixed now
Actually did starter first and this alone did the trick
Battery was done about 3months later to complete the job
Amazing how it would just die when hot...very embarassing!
The original starter just ain't up to it...from a bmw 316!
Bigger one is from an M5

Was just reading through your step by step guide, was it fairly easy to do. I'm compatent enough with spanners and my father is an engineer so he would be on hand should it be required.

How long in total did it take for it to be done?

[PetrolHeadPete]

Whole job was about 4 hours
Only that long cos I didn't rush and was new to Tuscan
Watch out for the starter bolts ...be sure to have a good
set of hex socket drives (3/8 or 1/2...1/4 won't cut it) and a good
collection of extension bars to reach