Starter heat soak??

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Starter heat soak??

May 12, 2012, 09:28:24 PM

This is not t-bird related but rather it's my V8 Ranger that's got the problem. My headers are VERY, VERY close to my starter....enough so that I had to swap to a mini and still dent the collector tube. Also wrapped it in a resistent shield to try to deflect some of the heat.

When it's cold the starter cranks fine. But after the engine is warmed up, the starter cranks VERY slow and usually not fast enough to even fire the motor. I'm thinking the starter is heat soaked and causing the problem. The CR is nearly 11:1 but I'm running normal base timing and have a 1000 CCA Interstate battery.

Any input??

Starter heat soak??

Reply #1 – May 13, 2012, 06:32:59 AM

Check all connections and make sure they are clean and tight. If it is a heat soak condition and i am assuming it is. You have to remove the heat source. So either get another set of headers that clear the starter better or install the stock manifolds. Good luck

Starter heat soak??

Reply #2 – May 13, 2012, 06:49:20 AM

Aargh!! For a 351W Ranger swap there are no really good options for headers and even less viable choices for shorty headers. Stock mani's......ick!!

But thanks for the input, Tom.

Starter heat soak??

Reply #3 – May 13, 2012, 07:06:28 AM

Maybe you could cut off the end of the header that is near the starter, and reweld it by either adding more pipe, but basically modding the header, not just dimpling it.

Starter heat soak??

Reply #4 – May 13, 2012, 07:11:48 AM

I'm going to have to do something......this is annoying. My 302 Ranger does fine (stock mani's and small exhaust) but the problem is with my 351W 2wd truck (long tubes take up a lot of space). The kids love crusing around in it but I have to plan my stops around how long we'll be in the store so it can cool down enough to start. Even at car cruises I park somewhere that it's out of the way and I won't have to move it until we are ready to leave.

Can't run it around for quick in and out stops unless I leave it running and don't want to do that!! Can't take it to the track unless I trailer it and don't want to do that!!

Starter heat soak??

Reply #5 – May 13, 2012, 07:31:45 AM

I used shortys for a fox Mustang on my old 351 Ranger, had to mod the drivers side around the steering shaft but had no trouble with pass. side.

Starter heat soak??

Reply #6 – May 13, 2012, 08:18:13 AM

I had those on my 302 Ranger...was not really thrilled with them. But if this problem can not be solved in the current configuration then I'll have to do something.

Starter heat soak??

Reply #7 – May 13, 2012, 10:48:15 AM

Definitely need to check the connections like Tom said, but if you had to the header for it to clear, I would suggest you have the header reworked for that issue like Vinnie said. I like the long tubes also so I can see you not wanting to change to anything else. What did you wrap the starter or the tube?

Starter heat soak??

Reply #8 – May 13, 2012, 02:52:24 PM

My starter does the same thing only after I run the car really hard. I also have headers that are almost touching the starter. I was going to try getting the smaller starter so I can fit some heat wrap in between

Starter heat soak??

Reply #9 – June 10, 2012, 12:24:31 AM

Update!!

Finally got around to doing something about the horrible hot start issue on the Ranger. Tonight I ran a 1/0 cable directly from the battery ground to the block. Didn't realize it but I already have a 1/0 on the positive side.

After swapping the cable a cold start up was instant, faster than before. Ran the truck around a little while, got some gas and headed back to the garage. This was enough running around to make a hot start impossible and frustrating. Now a turn of the key had the starting spinning as quick as when it was cold and she fired right up!! Yay!!

Starter heat soak??

Reply #10 – June 10, 2012, 06:40:17 AM

Dan a quick voltage drop would have found that issue. I am happy you fixed it. Grounds are important. Feed and ground wires should be the same size. 1/0 is a little over kill but i am glad you are up and running..

By the way i love THIS!!

They sent my Census form back! AGAIN!!! In response to the question: "Do you have any dependents?" I replied - "12 million illegal immigrants; 3 million crack heads; 42 million unemployable people, 2 million people in over 243 prisons; Half of Mexico; and 535 more in the U.S. House and Senate. Apparently, this was NOT an acceptable answer.

When my kids applied to schools JR said he was NATIVE AMERICAN??? They asked him why he answered this way and it was incorrect. His reply was !!!

I WAS BORN IN BROOKLYN !!!! CANT GET ANY MORE NATIVE THAN THAT!!

Starter heat soak??

Reply #11 – June 10, 2012, 06:48:30 PM

Mine turned out to be the cable too. After replacing and heat shielding the starter I was still having the same problem. I have my battery in the trunk, so i tried jumping it from the front when it was hot and it started right up. Just needed a bigger cable.

Starter heat soak??

Reply #12 – June 10, 2012, 07:14:30 PM

I've got the same issue on my Sport. When cold, starts great, and fast. When hot, not so well. I have a mini starter, a brand new battery, and 1-5/8" headers. Timing is set at 16* or close to it.

I probably need cables, they're about the only thing not been changed as far as wiring and power.

Starter heat soak??

Reply #13 – June 10, 2012, 10:29:45 PM

Check your grounds too.

A lot of the time a bigger cable doesn't actually help if its a grounding issue. Your just allowing more power to be pjmped through from the battery, and may cause even more problems with a weak or bad ground.

On my buddies toyota, it wouldn't hardy crank at all. We swapped in a spare starter, even another battery. It ended up being a bad engine to chhassi ground. Through a 12 guage wire from the starter to the fraame, started right up without problems. Added a couple of 10 guage engine to chassi grounds, started cranking easy as pie, and took much less drain on battery to crank.

Starter heat soak??

Reply #14 – June 11, 2012, 12:01:41 PM

Voltage drop measurements GUYS. That is the answer!!