I have a '86 F250 with a 460 cu in. engine. When the engine is cold the engine cranks over normally and starts immediately. Lately, when I have driven it and the engine is to normal operating temperature, if I turn it off and have to start it again, it barely turns enough to start it. Sometimes it doesn't turnover enough to start it. If I wait awhile it seems to turn over better, but just barely enough to start it. If I let it cool down completely say overnight it cranks and starts normally. Any ideas if this is the starter, the battery or an engine problem? Thank You

 

Mine is like that also. New starter and wiring... On my engine, it seems that once the stater heat soaks, it doesn't have the guts to spin it over with the timing set properly. If I back it off, it will spin it no problem, but, of course, the power is gone... But, I've even went as far as to get a heat weap for the starter, and it makes no difference.

 

The bad thing is that some of the rebuilt starters aren't rebuilt to correct this.

 

My 460 was doing this also -- here's what I did and it cranks over great warm or cold. Went to the local John Deere dealer and brought in all my old battery cables. They custom made new cables --- one from the positive battery post to the relay on the fender, one from the negative battery post to the engine block, and the long one from the starter to the starter relay on the fender. They used heavy tractor battery cable, not the small crappy cables found at local auto parts stores. With a good battery she starts everytime.

 

That sounds great and easy enough. Thank You for your help!

 

Im no expert on electrical stuff and haven't done much work on it on my truck either, but to those who are more experienced, could it be his alternator? The engine cranks, then runs juice out of the battery during operation and doesn't quite have the power to crank it right up, but when allowed to sit overnight it builds up a charge? This is probably completely wrong but it seems logical to an inexperienced person like me.

 

It is a cheaply rebuilt starter issue. My guess is that the starters have been rebuilt so many times they are literally wearing out. Larger cables probably help because the extra amperage at the starter allow things to work more smoothly.

It can also be a poor connection, make sure everything is clean and making good contact.

 

Thanks for reply Ford 51. I thought the same thing and have already replaced the alternator and checked that it is in fact charging.

Thanks for your reply paden. I think I will likely wind up replacing both the cables and the starter.

Thanks to you both.

 

I had the same problem w/ my 85 F-350 w/ 460. Dual battery set up. Put 2 new batteries in and changed out the ground cable and works great hot or cold now. Before I did this, I grounded the battery (NEG) to the chassis with a jumper camper when engine was HOT and to get it started.

 

Anybody think of timing? I know if the car is a bit to far advanced that can cause hard starts when warm/hot.

 

I went through this with my Bronco. It is the aftermarket starter. In my research I found out Ford insulated the original starter with a heat sheld that was taken off my truck. After trying every thing including the timing I solved the problem by wrapping the starter with insulation, like aluminum and fiberglas. This will do the trick. Before I discovered this I did everything imaginable to solve it even changing out the timing chain. Save yourself grief and insulate the starter.

 

i had the same problem with my 84 f150 replacing the wires and the relay helped me out.

 

My 83 300 came from the factory with no such shield.

I put an insulation wrap on my 78 Grand Prix, didn't help at all.

 

Thanks to Coneynew, Scotty2Hottie, Waffen298, dumdum9599 &
srercrcr. This has all been helpful information.

 

I agree with Scotty. Before you make yourself crazy and spend a good deal of money on something its not, check you timing and make sure it is right on. After that, check the free stuff: like clean the connections, and tighten the ground cables. Replace any suspect wiring. If it still does it, take it to a battery shop when it is fully warm and have them check to see how many amp the starter draws. Just because you have a rebuilt starter doesn't mean it is any good.