trouble starting after long drive
 

I went on about a two hour drive today, car reached about 220 degrees for about 20 mins when I was in traffic but cooled down to about 180-200 the rest of the drive. About 15-20 mins after I shut the car off, I tried to start it and nothing, just heard the fuel pump come on and that was it. about an hour or so later, (once the engine cooled down) I tried it again and she started right up. does anyone know why this is?

First suspect is slightly less than perfect electrical connections at both all the grounds and the + side.

This is also a typical symptom of an ‘old and ready to fail’ starter motor. The easy fix, buy a rebuilt Bosch exchange starter from our host. The “while you are there” is cleaning all the connections.

One of the causes of this is the waste heater air (400F?) outlet is very near the starter. High temp = increased resistance in the copper solenoid coils = less current = inability to actuate the starter old dirty mechanism and contacts. I think 993s duct this hot air into the rear fender well.

Best,
Grady

Bad starter. They do that when they get hot. You may be able to fix it by cleaning all the termials and wires and cleaning the solenoid which is also your line voltage switch. It acts like a relay. Gots to be clean. All fouled up and no voltage to the starter motor sounds very much like your problem.

I just replaced the starter about 6 months ago. Is the solenoid bad perhaps? What can I do to check it if it is?

That's amazing. I was just about to start an almost identical thread.

Mine happens after about an hour of high temp driving (220, 230ish.)

For me, I can hear the fuel pump and the "click" of the solenoid, but no crank. I guess I can start by checking all the connections, because it don't cost nothin.

Any other suggestions?

If you're comfortable under the car and trying to start it (pretty dangerous in my book), you can hook up a remote starter button and listen to what happens. Let's say you're holding the button down and nothing. Then you lightly hit the solenoid with a hammer and it engages and starts to run over. That would definately be the solenoid. Some will take a screwdriver and connect the battery lead to the yellow wire. I think that's kinda messy, sparks and all plus a nasty looking screwdriver. But, if you don't have a remote button.........

Oh just get one. Good for adjusting valves.

Edit: I meant to say "turn" over. That was a bad slip of the brain. Also, I was typing when Grady posted. I feel pretty confident that it's the starter if HE says so. ;) :D

I'm in the middle of a Fla downpour and the screwdriver came out. Feeling out the terminals almost blindly was not the cleanest thing either. Then setting up the screwdriver in my palm for the task was a fa kin hassle. It's good that I love water.

Did I say my engine comp now has a 20amp momentary on sw with 10 awg wire, gold connectors, and silver solder?