My starter is acting up: When I drive around for half an hour or so in city traffic in hot weather, once I stop the engine, it won't crank (sometimes not even a click) for about 15 minutes until it cools down.

I tested the ignition switch by running the current to the starter directly from the battery: When symptom exists, it won't crank either so it is not the ignition switch.

I thought it may be the solenoid that went bad and replaced it but the syptom stayed so that wasn't the solution either.

I pulled it out again and cranked it manually many times and it kept cranking. When I did the same test on the car with the starter installed and only driven 10 minutes so when it is semi-hot, it eventually got stuck.

So I installed a heat shield as the dual exhaust pipes run just below and next to the starter (passenger side) which I thought may prevent the probable cause: An overheating starter.

BUT: Is this a common occurence or should I simply suspect that my starter drive is faulty since the solenoid is fine?

PS: I will be testing it with this heat shield in the noon heat tomorrow but still I would appreciate any answers. Thanks much in advance.

 

Is it the original starter? how many miles on it?

 

Probably a heat soak problem.

Try a modern gear-reduction/mini starter. For some reason (Im not sure why) they're allegedly not as prone to heat soak issues.

 

I've heard good things about them

 

rather new but remanufactured by SMP. Only couple of thousand miles if that...

 

correct but I keep it as a final solution, 150 bucks If my home-made aliminum heat shield fixes the problem, I'll go with it. However you are thinking this may very well be a heat soak issue then? A rather common occurence in 5.7s?

 

Heat sink problem. VERY common. So common that dozens of manufactures make high torque mini starters as stated above. Replace your starter with one of these little monsters and you will never have this problem again. Been there done that.....

 

OK thanks much for the info.