car doesnt like to start when hot
 

So i did a heads cam swap this winter, also had to replace the starter, and headers and a bunch of other stuff. Turns out when the car would get hot, it wouldn't wanna start, so i replaced the coolant temp sensor, seemed to fix the problem, but now its happening again. Whenever i drive the car around for a while and shut it down go and get a soda or whatever, and i come back to start it, it just clicks. Sometimes if i put the gas pedal all the way down or play with the key itll start. It doesn't crank or anything when this happens, the only thing that i hear is the click of the starter engaging the flywheel, and ideas?

How are the grounds? Did you miss the ones on the back of the head/are they loose? I ask this since they are a PITA to get to. Could be a starter heatsoaking.

How close are the headers to the starter? Sounds like the starter motor is heat soaking from the exhaust.

-Tim

Starter, the solenoid is clicking. Its not engaging the flywheel. Coolant temp sensor and gas pedal have nothing to do with it.

anyway to prevent the heat soak?

i gather ill just go with one of these reflective starter wraps from summit, ill let you guys know how it works out, in the meantime is the starter shot than? it starts on the first crank when its cold

Whats the primary use of the car?

What headers are on it?

I am not a fan of the wraps. If you run through any water or a good puddle water can collect in them and that's worse for the starter than just getting warm. look at the shield type ones or just grab some tin and bend one up for yourself.

-Tim

car never sees water, but ill look into the shield ones thanks

they're LPP headers btw... the second generation its really just a weekend car, I hardly even drive it that much, to be honest I haven't even had it tuned yet

If the car is super lean the exhuast will get extra hot as well...

My starter does the same, and the heat wrap did help a little but it still will throw a fit every once in awhile.

hmmm it doesn't smell like its to lean, I do have the headers wrapped up by the primaries down to the collectors, maybe that's what's causing it to get real hot down there

someone on tech said to replace the starter relay... does that make sense to anyone?

The starter solenoid will usually be the culprit, least on mine it is.

You can smell lean?? 8-)

You can smell rich...

Just because a square is a rectangle doesn't mean a rectangle must also be a square

Confucius say "he who stand on toilet, is high on pot"

Where's the "Like" button on this thing?

defiantly a faulty flux capacitor.

clean terminals, chassis grounds too, and replace any main battery cables that look corroded or beat up.

How does the starter smell?

idk... never thought to sniff it (are u wondering if it smells burnt), its out of the car at the moment

Yes, you can very much smell lean or rich. Its an old school skill from the days of way back carburetors and no computers. Many of us can also tell by putting our hand behind the tail pipe on a non-catted car :)

-Tim

Im about to do longtubes... should fab up a heat shield I guess. dammit lol. Makes sense that headers will cause heat soak of the poor starter. I have a gear reduction starter so maybe ill be ok :) (LT4 starter apparently)