how do i counteract heat soak?

[Montehall]

Drove the C4 to work and back, and I stopped by the house on my way to drop off my friend who carpools with me. I shut off the car for about 5 minutes, go to start it and nothing. Everything turns on but no crank. I figured my starter was done, so we pushed it out of the driveway and I took him home in another car.
When I got home about 10 minutes later, I tried the Vette and it started without a problem.

[Stangkiller]

Sounds like you're missing a heat shield on the starter.

[JRD77VET]

They make an insulated starter heat shield that may help.

Universal Starter Heat Shield Reflective Mylar for Motor Homes Race Cars | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Starter-Heat-Shield-Reflective-Mylar-for-Motor-Homes-Race-Cars-/231025097286?pt=Race_Car_Parts&hash=item35ca2b3a46&vxp=mtr)

Ebay item number 231025097286

$16.95 with free shipping

[Fastguy]

The timing may be off as well, or the battery is weak.

[Montehall]

My timing is perfect. Battery is new.

[JRD77VET]

My timing is perfect. Battery is new.

Check the timing. I believe you set it correctly but what if it drifted?

Check it :yesnod:

[Montehall]

Timing would cause my starter not to engage?

[MrPeabody]

Timing would cause my starter not to engage?

Is the starter motor spinning? You said no crank.

[Montehall]

Is the starter motor spinning? You said no crank.
Right. No crank. Turn the key, and no noise from the starter

[mike100]

The Moroso small block chevy heat shield will solve the heat soak issue. In addition to that, go ahead and throw a new starter solenoid on there- it is not the starer, it is the solenoid that gets too hot.

[MrPeabody]

I've never had the problem with a Chevrolet, but I've owned a few Fords where the starter wouldn't turn if the engine was hot. Problem solved with new starter. Of course, on the Fords, the solenoid was located up on the fenderwell away from the engine heat.

When you said the starter wouldn't engage, it sounded like you meant it was spinning but not engaging the flywheel, which would be a solenoid problem.

[Montehall]

I've never had the problem with a Chevrolet, but I've owned a few Fords where the starter wouldn't turn if the engine was hot. Problem solved with new starter. Of course, on the Fords, the solenoid was located up on the fenderwell away from the engine heat.

When you said the starter wouldn't engage, it sounded like you meant it was spinning but not engaging the flywheel, which would be a solenoid problem.
OK. It wasn't spinning at all... like no power to it.

[1911fool]

Use a mini starter off something like a 95ish Chevy truck. They are much smaller, much easier to deal with. They also are further from your headers which will decrease heat soak. I have one on my 454SS and my S10. The kid at the parts store may argue with you, but it will work.

[Fastguy]

Right. No crank. Turn the key, and no noise from the starter

If the timing is off, yes that is very possible.

[RED-85-Z51]

If you arent already, try to use a good brand of starter, like AC DELCO, or some performance brand...Ive had issues with cheap-o and reman starters heat soaking...

[MrPeabody]

If you arent already, try to use a good brand of starter, like AC DELCO, or some performance brand...Ive had issues with cheap-o and reman starters heat soaking...

This. Probably even better off with an OEM one from a junkyard than a rebuilt in Mexico at a discount auto parts store.

[RED-85-Z51]

This. Probably even better off with an OEM one from a junkyard than a rebuilt in Mexico at a discount auto parts store.

When I had my 85, it had the original 107K mile starter on it, and one day it failed to start...I put on a new Napa Gold lifetime starter, and it still wouldnt go..found out it was a wire issue at the battery...fixed it, and voila..cranked right up.

A month later...click click click...start. So i took it back..got another new one under warranty..put it on, no start..just a hum. Took it back..got another one....it worked about 3 months and then actually wouldnt disengage one day I had to cut my battery cables....

I put the old original back on that had been sitting outside in my scrap drum for 6 months...and it worked fine when I pulled the engine out5 years later, and 50K miles later.

OEM starters are just tits...

[Fasglas]

Sounds like you're missing a heat shield on the starter.

:iagree:

[Montehall]

Sounds like you're missing a heat shield on the starter.
Well, yes.

[DJ_Critterus]

Check the timing. I believe you set it correctly but what if it drifted?

Check it :yesnod:

Still a good idea when you put in a new bullet, anyway.

Timing would cause my starter not to engage?

No. Heat will cause the solenoid to not engage. Get a heat shield like everyone else has said and go from there. Cheap fixes first unless you know exactly what the problem is (like in this case).

[...Whitepower...]

how do i counteract heat soak?.

Lose the top mount intercooler and get a front mount. :D

[DJ_Critterus]

Lose the top mount intercooler and get a front mount. :D

You do realize we're talking about a C4 here, right. The only cooler that thing has is stuck in the rear hatch :yesnod:

[Mirroredshades]

I think you are on the right track with the heat soak. It has nothing to do with the timing or battery. In addition to the heat shield, you can get some heat tape to put on the exhaust where it passes by the starter. My Camaro does the exact same thing. Starters don't like to be baked. If you feel like going the more expensive route, they make high heat starters that can handle it. That's what I had to do.

:thumbs:

[mike100]

Moroso : Category Display (http://www.moroso.com/catalog/categorydisplay.asp?catcode=42022)

These used to be $20, but looks like the going price is $34.99 now. These fit tightly around the starter and have good clearance for headers. It isn't just a cheap piece of stamped sheet metal, there are two pieces with some kind of insulating layer in between. Totally effective- get one...along with a $10 solenoid.

[Montehall]

I got some spare r20 insulation laying around... I'll just wrap it with that

:D

[justind]

Put a mini starter the fox body to combat this problem which was not as bad as my vette after I put long tube headers on it. I ended up wrapping the headers and putting in a brand new starter, been peachy from then on.

[HOWSER]

I had a similar issue with my 93. The sensor on the key was worn and caused the anti-theft to engage, leaving me temporarily stranded at times. After sitting for a short bit it wold fire right up.

Just a thought.

[Montehall]

I had a similar issue with my 93. The sensor on the key was worn and caused the anti-theft to engage, leaving me temporarily stranded at times. After sitting for a short bit it wold fire right up.

Just a thought.
84 doesn't have vats.
Besides, I can start mine with a screwdriver... or anything else that fits in the slot.

[...Whitepower...]

You do realize we're talking about a C4 here, right. The only cooler that thing has is stuck in the rear hatch :yesnod:

It was a jole.

[SnikPlosskin]

My 64 had this issue when I put headers on it. Had the headers coated and replaced the OEM starter with a high torque mini starter.

Now it sounds like a jet when I start it up. That sucker seriously cranks.

[Fastguy]

When its hot, does it do nothing or go half a turn and stop?

[HOWSER]

84 doesn't have vats.
Besides, I can start mine with a screwdriver... or anything else that fits in the slot.

You are correct. I wasn't sure of the year.

Good luck!

[Montehall]

When its hot, does it do nothing or go half a turn and stop?
Nothing happens. The electrical all energized though

[Montehall]

Do the metal ones work better than the blankets?

[Fastguy]

It doesn't make sense that you are heat soaking a starter on a stock smallblock with manifolds when it isn't even that hot out. If it had headers, a modified motor, was being driven hard or raced, it would make sense. It really just sounds like a bad starter. If the motor tried rolling a bit and then stopped, I would guess the timing moved as it is firing on piston upstroke and trying to force the crank in the opposite direction. Since it is doing nothing at all, sounds like a cooked starter. It should start hot without a heat shield. Have you tried wiggling the big cable or whacking the starter with a hammer?

[Montehall]

It started just fine about 10 minutes later. It hasn't done it since... but I usually drive it only to/from work. 35 minute drive each way, hours of rest in between.
Normal coolant temp is 190 to 210 (with a 180 thermostat) and oil temp at 230.

[Mirroredshades]

Besides, I can start mine with a screwdriver... or anything else that fits in the slot.



That's what she said.

:rofl:

[SnikPlosskin]

It doesn't make sense that you are heat soaking a starter on a stock smallblock with manifolds when it isn't even that hot out. If it had headers, a modified motor, was being driven hard or raced, it would make sense. It really just sounds like a bad starter. If the motor tried rolling a bit and then stopped, I would guess the timing moved as it is firing on piston upstroke and trying to force the crank in the opposite direction. Since it is doing nothing at all, sounds like a cooked starter. It should start hot without a heat shield. Have you tried wiggling the big cable or whacking the starter with a hammer?

I'm with George. Bad solenoid. My understanding is, when they go bad they become more heat sensitive. Also, might be coincidental that it doesn't start when hot.

[Fastguy]

It started just fine about 10 minutes later. It hasn't done it since... but I usually drive it only to/from work. 35 minute drive each way, hours of rest in between.
Normal coolant temp is 190 to 210 (with a 180 thermostat) and oil temp at 230.

Sounds like a loose cable/ bad connection, or a bad solenoid. Take both battery cables off and clean them, then make sure the cable to the solenoid is tight, then reattach the battery cables. If that doesn't solve the problem, it is the solenoid. The factory heat shield will help prevent future failures, but will not correct an overheated solenoid that is already damaged.
SB chevy starters are cheap.