Will heat from my headers.......
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 108
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From: Ohio
Will heat from my headers.......
shorten the life of the starter? The starter on my truck is right next to the passenger side header and there is no heat shield or anything between them. I am experiencing starter problems and I am wondering if this has anything to do with it. If it does, I have a set of manifolds that I am going to put on it and get rid of the headers. BTW my truck is a 92 F150/302 FI V8.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
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From: USA
I don't have headers on my Ford so I can't say for certain, but I did have them on my Chevy and headers on Chevys are notorious for killing starters. It's worse for the Chevys because the solenoid is mounted on the starter too instead of on the fenderwell.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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When I had starter problems with my 302 w/shorty headers, I considered heat but I have a good 3 or 4 inches clearance. Turned out to be a bad ground.
I got the headers to replace the inevitable cracked right manifold.
I got the headers to replace the inevitable cracked right manifold.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Port Coquitlam
I have full length headers on my 302 and without a heat shield it would cook a starter every three months as soon as I put some heat wrap on the headers and some reflective insulation around the starter It has never failed since.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
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I belive Ford did a recall about 94ish? to have heat shields placed around the starter. My 96 has this in place. So I would think heat is a factor here. The question is, are your headers closer to your starter than the factory manifold? Your parts store may have a bocht,(unsure of spelling, but you know the german one) for another $20.00 you get a five year warranty, then it's someone elses problem.
Last edited by SquareWheels; Jan 25, 2005 at 10:30 PM. Reason: ps
New User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Oklahoma City
This sounds somewhat like a problem I have with my 87 F150 with 302. After the truck is driven 30 minutes or longer and then stopped, the truck will act like it has a low battery. That is -it will give the low battery symptom in that it will just barely turn over or go click. This never happens if the truck is just driven for a short haul(less than 20 minutes or so.
It will always spin the starter and fire right up after sitting for 12-15 minutes. I have long suspected heat from the exhaust is causing problems with the starter as it is located only a couple of inches from the exhaust. I have replaced over the course of a year, the battery, starter solenoid twice, starter(O'Reilly's "lifetime") and all battery cables. Do you folks think that the heat buildup is the cause of this problem? Is some sort of heat wrap around the exhaust coupled with with some sort of a heat shield around the starter the answer.. First truck I have ever owned and I really don't know how I got along with out one. (Pretty sorry for a 50 something fella, huh?)....
Thanks for any advice.
It will always spin the starter and fire right up after sitting for 12-15 minutes. I have long suspected heat from the exhaust is causing problems with the starter as it is located only a couple of inches from the exhaust. I have replaced over the course of a year, the battery, starter solenoid twice, starter(O'Reilly's "lifetime") and all battery cables. Do you folks think that the heat buildup is the cause of this problem? Is some sort of heat wrap around the exhaust coupled with with some sort of a heat shield around the starter the answer.. First truck I have ever owned and I really don't know how I got along with out one. (Pretty sorry for a 50 something fella, huh?)....
Thanks for any advice.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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TerryW - you got it. Put heat wrap on the pipes and check with parts stores for a heat shield for the starter.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Oklahoma City
midlf,
Thanks for the information. This is an old beater truck that I picked up for $1200. I have put about $300 in it and enjoy the heck tinkering with it. This darn starter thing though is about to get my dander up. Being kind of dumb on "heat wrap", is there any type of material that I should ask for at the parts house? Will the NAPA,Autozone, O'reillys type of parts houses have both the wrap and the heat shield?
Thanks again
Thanks for the information. This is an old beater truck that I picked up for $1200. I have put about $300 in it and enjoy the heck tinkering with it. This darn starter thing though is about to get my dander up. Being kind of dumb on "heat wrap", is there any type of material that I should ask for at the parts house? Will the NAPA,Autozone, O'reillys type of parts houses have both the wrap and the heat shield?
Thanks again
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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The exhaust heat wrap I'm familiar with was from my days crewing a SCCA racecar for a friend years ago. It was a woven band of white stuff about 2-3" wide. We would wrap it on and use a hose clamp at each end to secure it. It was probably asbestos, the good stuff.
What I do is go to the parts counter and describe my problem and my thoughts on a fix. Sorta like "my starter is flaky when hot and its been suggested I heat wrap my pipes and put a heat shield on my starter. Whatcha got for that?"
Around here (SE WI) I have better luck with this approach at NAPA. They seem to have more experienced parts counter personnel. I also think they have greater reference resources other than having to the "year make and model" thing on the computer. Good luck. If they can't help you get back to FTE for more info, other ideas will probably be posted here by others.
What I do is go to the parts counter and describe my problem and my thoughts on a fix. Sorta like "my starter is flaky when hot and its been suggested I heat wrap my pipes and put a heat shield on my starter. Whatcha got for that?"
Around here (SE WI) I have better luck with this approach at NAPA. They seem to have more experienced parts counter personnel. I also think they have greater reference resources other than having to the "year make and model" thing on the computer. Good luck. If they can't help you get back to FTE for more info, other ideas will probably be posted here by others.
New User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6
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From: Oklahoma City
midlf,
I think I will try your idea. I have had the same results many times when the make,year,model on the computer is done. Thanks much for your help. Will probably get around to doing the wrap this weekend. Weather in Central Oklahoma is starting to get fairly nice. Take care. Will let you know how it turns out.....
Terry
I think I will try your idea. I have had the same results many times when the make,year,model on the computer is done. Thanks much for your help. Will probably get around to doing the wrap this weekend. Weather in Central Oklahoma is starting to get fairly nice. Take care. Will let you know how it turns out.....
Terry
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Concord, New Hampshire
Header wrap and starter heat sheilds, Summit and jegs both carry them and maby local speed shops, you may not be able to get it from napa but you never know, i have noticed it in two lengths, one for fours and one for v8's.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Topsfield, MA
My 95 has a...maybe ceramic...shield that clips on the top of the starter.
I just put some ford shorty headers and bassani-y pipe on my F-150 and my clearance for the starter is pretty good. I've got a couple inches and I think the heat wrap is a good idea for those who are having problems. Mine's a 351 based motor so maybe it's a little different than the 302 since the 351 is wider.
I just put some ford shorty headers and bassani-y pipe on my F-150 and my clearance for the starter is pretty good. I've got a couple inches and I think the heat wrap is a good idea for those who are having problems. Mine's a 351 based motor so maybe it's a little different than the 302 since the 351 is wider.
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