Hot start problem?

[450Nick]

Hi all,

Over the last 4 years I've felt smug when reading posts on this subject as I've never ever had any sort of hot start problem, it's always started a treat. Unfortunately things seem to have changed.

The problem I'm having is that when I go to start the car (sometimes) when its very hot, it doesn't want to go. Not even a sign of a noise from the starter. The most I get is a dimming effect on the interior lights as if current is being drawn, though no movement.

The question is, is this the popular hot start problem and am I not getting enough current to the starter all of a sudden, or is it likely to be something more mechanical - is the starter fked?

It won't be the immobiliser as I ripped the crappy Meta one out years ago and fitted a decent Autowatch one. If anyone can throw me some ideas on the subject I'd be most grateful and I'll get on with trying to sort it this weekend

[Ribol]

Take the starter off, clean all the dried cr@p off the piston and inside the solenoid hole, lubricate with vaseline and refit.

I will await the hoards of people telling you to alter something that has been working fine for years instead

[450Nick]

Common sense... I like it.

[MK INDY]

I had the same problem, thought I would fit a new starter motor, it did not make any difference, I still had the same problem, fitted the Mod Wise hot start kit, £20 and 10 minutes, job done, never had a problem since, I should have done that in the first place, my advice is start with the easiest cure first, getting the starter off laid on the garage floor is not easy.

http://www.chimaerapages.com/resources_hotstart.ph...

Edited by MK INDY on Monday 8th November 11:34

[spend]

I'd use a modern silicone grease that tolerates the heat better if you delve in the solenoid.

[Ribol]

spend said:

I'd use a modern silicone grease that tolerates the heat better if you delve in the solenoid.

You could do but people who actually know about this stuff still use vaseline in preference to the silicone grease, despite obviously being aware of its existence.

[stumpage]

I had the same earlier this year. Fitted the Mod wise kit, took all of 15 mins, and never had a problem since.

[450Nick]

Why would it suddenly appear as a problem though? Has resistance increased due to terminal corrosion? Has the starter become gummed up and is requiring more current to operate? Combination? I'll probably pull the starter off and give it a lube and a clean and maybe do the hot start mod as well..

[bobfather]

stumpage said:

I had the same earlier this year. Fitted the Mod wise kit, took all of 15 mins, and never had a problem since.

Mod Wise kit is by far the easiest way to solve the problem, I don't doubt that the solenoid ram gets full of sticky crud, it does on many cars but only with TVR do we also have a problem with restricted current through the immobiliser circuit. In simple terms both solutions solve the problem, one solution is easy but costs money, the other is free but requires mechanical strip down of a difficult to reach component

[450Nick]

bobfather said:

stumpage said:

I had the same earlier this year. Fitted the Mod wise kit, took all of 15 mins, and never had a problem since.

Mod Wise kit is by far the easiest way to solve the problem, I don't doubt that the solenoid ram gets full of sticky crud, it does on many cars but only with TVR do we also have a problem with restricted current through the immobiliser circuit. In simple terms both solutions solve the problem, one solution is easy but costs money, the other is free but requires mechanical strip down of a difficult to reach component

It's not that difficult to reach! Only a couple of big bolts and whip off the battery terminals. The only tricky bit is rememering how heavy it is and not to allow it to drop it on your face!

[Ribol]

bobfather said:

stumpage said:

I had the same earlier this year. Fitted the Mod wise kit, took all of 15 mins, and never had a problem since.

Mod Wise kit is by far the easiest way to solve the problem, I don't doubt that the solenoid ram gets full of sticky crud, it does on many cars but only with TVR do we also have a problem with restricted current through the immobiliser circuit. In simple terms both solutions solve the problem, one solution is easy but costs money, the other is free but requires mechanical strip down of a difficult to reach component

No in simple terms one solves the problem, the other allows you to overcome it.

[MK INDY]

Ribol said:

bobfather said:

stumpage said:

I had the same earlier this year. Fitted the Mod wise kit, took all of 15 mins, and never had a problem since.

Mod Wise kit is by far the easiest way to solve the problem, I don't doubt that the solenoid ram gets full of sticky crud, it does on many cars but only with TVR do we also have a problem with restricted current through the immobiliser circuit. In simple terms both solutions solve the problem, one solution is easy but costs money, the other is free but requires mechanical strip down of a difficult to reach component

No in simple terms one solves the problem, the other allows you to overcome it.

In my case a brand new starter did not cure the problem, so to me points to another cause of the hot start problem, what ever the cause of the problem is, if it can be cured for £20 and a 10 minute fix, its got to be the best option.

Edited by MK INDY on Monday 8th November 14:55

[bobfather]

MK INDY said:

Ribol said:

bobfather said:

stumpage said:

I had the same earlier this year. Fitted the Mod wise kit, took all of 15 mins, and never had a problem since.

Mod Wise kit is by far the easiest way to solve the problem, I don't doubt that the solenoid ram gets full of sticky crud, it does on many cars but only with TVR do we also have a problem with restricted current through the immobiliser circuit. In simple terms both solutions solve the problem, one solution is easy but costs money, the other is free but requires mechanical strip down of a difficult to reach component

No in simple terms one solves the problem, the other allows you to overcome it.

In my case a brand new starter did not cure the problem, so to me points to another cause of the hot start problem, what ever the cause of the problem, if it can be cured for £20 and a 10 minute fix, its got to be the best option.

Correct; two problems with the same symptoms. There isn't a right answer, both are right, neither is wrong

[SILICONE KID]

Where do you buy the Mod Wise kit .?

Edited by SILICONE KID on Monday 8th November 21:10

[pk500]

I made a hot start wiring loom up about 3 years ago it was fine until a few weeks ago when i filled up with fuel came out after paying a click put a boost pack on it and it started,i had been turning over a bit slow for a while so i got a uprated starter motor for it what is 1.7 kw instead of 1.2 and i put a 031 battery on it now it spins over mega fast hot or cold now

[gralin69]

Kit From
http://www.mod-wise.co.uk/

Chimaera Pages earlier post good luck
Graham C

[SILICONE KID]

Thank you

[Pupp]

450Nick said:

Why would it suddenly appear as a problem though? Has resistance increased due to terminal corrosion? Has the starter become gummed up and is requiring more current to operate?

Blower seals gone and huge carbon build up in the combustion chambers increasing CR?

[Bluebottle]

Check your earth strap connections Nick, Particularly the one on the transmission tunnel. I've had this issue for years...modwise kits, new starters (5 in total) even expensive Race metal and i still had this problem. replaced earth strap and move it to the other side of the trannie tunnel (cos the thread was partially stripped) and i no longer have the problem.

Edited by Bluebottle on Tuesday 9th November 09:14

[spend]

Are you on about the main battery ground under the dash Hamish? I do think it makes sense to run a small extra ground between the two chassis bolts either side.

I also ran a short earth (battery sized cable) from the starter bolt to the chassis ground for the engine (near o/side engine mount) so the main engine grounds are also duplexed from the chassis.