Problems Starting

[SwampySi]

Hi All,

like most went for a drive out today in the blistering Sun, all was fine, no problems until we stopped for an Ice Cream. When returning to the car and starting it the car barely turned over, almost like the battery was flat. It did start first time, but just seemed to be a strain to get it turned over. I tried it again when I got home and the same thing, barely turned over but started first time.

Battery readout on the dash is 13v+ so looks fine, and I keep it in the garage on a Accumate all the time.

I've just had a lot of work carried out (water pump leaking so engine out and shipped to Str8Six for pump rebuild), so cash is tight. Plus I've got a long weekend away touring the west coast of scotland in 3 weeks so don't want to find myself stuck somewhere

Any ideas?

[Targarama]

Sounds like either heat soak on the starter or attention is needed to the cabling to the starter (the big fat high amperage cables)

[SwampySi]

Targarama said:

Sounds like either heat soak on the starter or attention is needed to the cabling to the starter (the big fat high amperage cables)

Sorry for being thick

What is "heat soak on the starter motor"

[MrChips]

The starter may struggle to turn with ad much force as normal when it gets too hot. This can then be made worse if the cabling isn't passing quite enough current (can also happen if the cabling gets hot too)

Does it do it when stone cold? If not then try wrapping the starter motors in heatproof matting stuff to try to insulate it from the heat from the engine bay.

[SwampySi]

Thanks.

Starts perfectly fine from cold, It was a blistering hot day today, I've never seen my Oil temp hit 90 before so things must have been getting hot in there, so I assume it was the temps causing the problems.

[stimshady]

I had this problem a year or two back there is another thread on it somewhere - it basically didnt start after getting hot, but if you left it to cool down for an hour then it worked.

I checked all the earthing cables as people suggested and that didn't do it.

In the end i got a new starter motor in, (apparently the new design?) and it has been absolutely fine ever since.

You can just about live with the problem i guess, subject to not stalling somewhere when it's hot! But i would just get the starter changed. Worked for me.

[SwampySi]

Can you starter be changed with the Engine in?

[stimshady]

i believe so, i don't recall the bill being that expensive.

here's the old thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[SwampySi]

Thanks..

I'll add it to my to-do list

[thainy77]

As others have said it sounds like a hot start issue, the starter could be the problem or cables as suggested. It can be changed with the engine in place.

[PetrolHeadPete]

Search on tuscan forum for thread
called starting problems from july 2008

Upgrade puny starter to m5 flavor unit

[obikaii]

have the same problem in mine,they recon its a 1.5/2 hour job,looking over past threads it seems to be a common issue.

[BCA]

PetrolHeadPete said:

Search on tuscan forum for thread
called starting problems from july 2008

Upgrade puny starter to m5 flavor unit

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=556116&hw=+%2Bstarting+%2Bproblems&nmt=Starting%20Problems

Interesting and noted for the future... Not had even the slightest of problems with the T350c yet, but good to know.

I am mostly intersted by the comment about increasing oil pressure during start up.