Won't start when hot?
#1
Won't start when hot?
Hi guys, newbie here. Just picked up a '87 F250 7.5L today.
Short Version:
Can heat cause a starter to fail? What is the remedy?
Long Version:
When I went to test drive it, fired right up, cold, appears to not have been touched in weeks. Came back from the test drive, gave the lady some cash, got a pink slip and back into the truck I went. Started a little more sluggish this time, but not too bad. Drove up the street to a gas station, filled up, started a even slower this time. Got her on the freeway, put about 30 miles on the clock of freeway driving, parked, came back a half hour later, barely started. Put on another 40 miles to get home, parked in the street while I rearranged other cars, and when I went to move her, wouldn't budge. Cleaned battery terminals, hooked up a charger, and noticed that the engine compartment light didn't change - stayed equally bright whether the charger was connected or not. Then I tried my "start" feature of my charger, which pumps 60A through the system to help you start, and still nothing. Is heat my starter's enemy, and will replacing the starter solve my problem?
For those of you who actually read through the entire "long version", thank you.
For those who give a reply, thank you!
Oh, and I tried a search for "hot starter", whoa. I wish I knew how to narrow that one down...
Short Version:
Can heat cause a starter to fail? What is the remedy?
Long Version:
When I went to test drive it, fired right up, cold, appears to not have been touched in weeks. Came back from the test drive, gave the lady some cash, got a pink slip and back into the truck I went. Started a little more sluggish this time, but not too bad. Drove up the street to a gas station, filled up, started a even slower this time. Got her on the freeway, put about 30 miles on the clock of freeway driving, parked, came back a half hour later, barely started. Put on another 40 miles to get home, parked in the street while I rearranged other cars, and when I went to move her, wouldn't budge. Cleaned battery terminals, hooked up a charger, and noticed that the engine compartment light didn't change - stayed equally bright whether the charger was connected or not. Then I tried my "start" feature of my charger, which pumps 60A through the system to help you start, and still nothing. Is heat my starter's enemy, and will replacing the starter solve my problem?
For those of you who actually read through the entire "long version", thank you.
For those who give a reply, thank you!
Oh, and I tried a search for "hot starter", whoa. I wish I knew how to narrow that one down...
#2
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#7
I had the exact same problem with my truck when I first got it. It would start right up when it was cold, but as soon as it was warm for some reason, it started super slow. The first thing that helped was a new battery, terminals, and ground wires. That did the trick for a while, but then after my starter died, and I replaced it, is when I noticed just how big of a difference a new starter has done for the truck for over 2 years now. It always starts very strong no matter how long its been running. I think if you cleaned your terminals, and your battery appears to be in fairly good condition, the only other place I would look is to make sure your ground wire is good to the frame or where ever its located, then my next area of concern would be to look towards replacing the starter. Its a not a too hard of a job, and starters aren't too expensive.
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#8
I always start with the easy/cheap things first before blindly throwing money at it. Grounds and poor connections will get you everytime.
#9
#11
Tomorrow morning, I'll be tearing into grounds, and other various contacts to clean and reconnect. If that doesn't do the trick, I'm buying a new battery. Who knows how old or what sort of abuse this one's been through, so better safe than sorry. And if that doesn't do the trick, time for a new starter. Who knows when that's been changed, if ever.
BRay09, the timing issue, did you find that you had to advance or retard? How would heat play a role in timing resulting in a hot-not start issue?
I know I sound like a 5-year-old sometimes, "Why? Why? Why?", and for that, I'm sorry, but a whole lotta dollars can be blown on "just because."
Thanks again for all your knowledge and support.
BRay09, the timing issue, did you find that you had to advance or retard? How would heat play a role in timing resulting in a hot-not start issue?
I know I sound like a 5-year-old sometimes, "Why? Why? Why?", and for that, I'm sorry, but a whole lotta dollars can be blown on "just because."
Thanks again for all your knowledge and support.
#12
Tomorrow morning, I'll be tearing into grounds, and other various contacts to clean and reconnect. If that doesn't do the trick, I'm buying a new battery. Who knows how old or what sort of abuse this one's been through, so better safe than sorry. And if that doesn't do the trick, time for a new starter. Who knows when that's been changed, if ever.
BRay09, the timing issue, did you find that you had to advance or retard? How would heat play a role in timing resulting in a hot-not start issue?
I know I sound like a 5-year-old sometimes, "Why? Why? Why?", and for that, I'm sorry, but a whole lotta dollars can be blown on "just because."
Thanks again for all your knowledge and support.
BRay09, the timing issue, did you find that you had to advance or retard? How would heat play a role in timing resulting in a hot-not start issue?
I know I sound like a 5-year-old sometimes, "Why? Why? Why?", and for that, I'm sorry, but a whole lotta dollars can be blown on "just because."
Thanks again for all your knowledge and support.
#13
I cleaned "most" of my battery contacts which resulted in success. I say most, because I can't seem to find where the negative battery terminal terminates. There's a large smog recovery box in the way, as well as an axle and whatever else.
I replaced my positive cable with a new 2 gauge from my LAPS, and it makes me want to do the same for my negative, though I has other leads coming from it - will that be a dealer item, as opposed to something form my local auto parts store?
Above I mentioned "with success". The truck starts in all situations now, cold, warm, hot. But it isn't the quickest start, and leaves me with some concern.
Tested my battery at my LAPS, and it passed with flying colors. So worst case, I have to replace my starter which looks fairly straight-forward. Two bolts, one wire, off to the races.
Thanks for all the advice.
So, how hard is it to get to that negative battery cable, is there something I should remove to get to it?
I replaced my positive cable with a new 2 gauge from my LAPS, and it makes me want to do the same for my negative, though I has other leads coming from it - will that be a dealer item, as opposed to something form my local auto parts store?
Above I mentioned "with success". The truck starts in all situations now, cold, warm, hot. But it isn't the quickest start, and leaves me with some concern.
Tested my battery at my LAPS, and it passed with flying colors. So worst case, I have to replace my starter which looks fairly straight-forward. Two bolts, one wire, off to the races.
Thanks for all the advice.
So, how hard is it to get to that negative battery cable, is there something I should remove to get to it?
#15
The neg battery to the block is not too difficult to get too...if you have small hands. If you climb under the truck and look at the front passenger side corner of the engine block, you'll see where it connects. There should also be another going from there to the frame, to provide a ground for towing accesories and the like.