Car won't start during errands.

Topic: Car won't start during errands. (Read 2141 times) previous topic - next topic

Car won't start during errands.

March 09, 2010, 06:31:55 PM

Alright, I could have swore I posted this but I can't find the thread. My problem is, if the car has been sitting for an hour or more it starts right up, If i drive it down town to get a coffee or a gallon of milk, shut it off and try to start it 5 mins later when I come out, it struggles, like there is a dead battery. The battery is new as of 3 months ago. It did this with the old battery too. Is there something else that could be causing this? I checked the voltage previously, and it was fine, even with everything on, the rear window defrost, high blower, lights and radio I get 12.xx volts to the battery, so the alternator is working fine.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #1 – March 09, 2010, 07:02:13 PM

Heatsoaked starter? This exact same thing used to happen in a 71 Firebird Formula i had. The heat would radiate off the headers and cause the starter to do the same thing you described.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #2 – March 09, 2010, 07:06:30 PM

Quote from: jandmmustangs;313371

Heatsoaked starter? This exact same thing used to happen in a 71 Firebird Formula i had. The heat would radiate off the headers and cause the starter to do the same thing you described.

Common problem with the large ford starters. When you replace it, get a mini high torque starter.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #3 – March 09, 2010, 07:42:51 PM

If you have some R-12 you aren't going to use, could always give the starter a blast before you try to crank it...:hick:

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #4 – March 09, 2010, 08:07:54 PM

Yep,starter.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #5 – March 09, 2010, 08:17:21 PM

Make sure the engine ground on the block is tight.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #6 – March 09, 2010, 08:43:21 PM

what comes to mind is battery terminals then the starter. Thats where i would start is the cables then if it continues then look into a starter.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #7 – March 09, 2010, 09:55:21 PM

Quote from: Cougar8775;313397

what comes to mind is battery terminals then the starter. Thats where i would start is the cables then if it continues then look into a starter.

I might suspect that if he said he had trouble starting it other than just when it was hot.
If he had said it was hard to start first thing in the morning, I would say bad battery(Dead cell). But he didn't.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #8 – March 10, 2010, 12:57:28 AM

Besides replacing the starter for an expensive high torque mini starter, is there anything else I can do? If i put my booster pack on the battery, even when its almost dead(the booster pack) its usually enough to kick the car over. So when its hot does it have more resistance and therefore need more juice? I know the Oldsmobile has a heat shield, were these cars supposed to have one? Is there anything else I can do?

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #9 – March 10, 2010, 01:46:13 AM

You know, I'm not real big on starter repair, I have tried jumping motors with this problem, and it really doesn't help. You either find a way to kick off the motor within the first rev(Which is how my old 3.8 was) or replace the starter. Anyone with different experience feel free to correct me, but that's what I know.

Also, you should be able to grab a high torque out of the junkyard(V6 mustang/I6 Econoline, etc, I believe Just no late model v8s.) and with minor wiring modifications, it should work just fine. I say should because, I have a new style starter for mine, but didn't install it because the old one worked fine, so...I don't know for sure.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #10 – March 10, 2010, 10:25:45 AM

I had this exact same problem with mine. Turns out the heat from the headers did a number on the starter. Replaced the starter with a high torque mini, and haven't had a problem since. I also chose to put heat wrap on the new starter, just in case.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #11 – March 10, 2010, 03:15:07 PM

Everyone keeps mentioning headers, I only have a stock exhaust, would this make a difference? I'm just checking.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #12 – March 10, 2010, 06:19:20 PM

Quote from: jpc647;313518

Everyone keeps mentioning headers, I only have a stock exhaust, would this make a difference? I'm just checking.

The next time it won't turn over, feel the starter and see how hot it is.
Did you check the battery voltage when it won't start?
If the car is stock a stock starter will work fine.
Make sure the negative battery cable connection on the engine block is tight.

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #13 – March 10, 2010, 06:31:07 PM

I just reread the original post , and what I noticed is he said he was getting 12xx volts
I might be wrong but shouldn't it be more like 13.6 to 15.3 volts when the car is running , I just double checked my car my meter reads 13.8 at idle

Car won't start during errands.

Reply #14 – March 10, 2010, 08:02:05 PM

Quote from: jpc647;313518

Everyone keeps mentioning headers, I only have a stock exhaust, would this make a difference? I'm just checking.

Sure header heat will kill a starter faster, but those large ford ones do just wear out, even on a stock motor. I've seen this problem on I6's all stock. You could go with a stock replacement, but you might have the same problem in the future, plus, the small ones don't have to work as hard due to torque multiplication, so it's easier on everything.

Hypo - With everything running on a stock alt, 12 something is acceptable. And if it wasn't, I could hardly see this being only a "after driving" issue.