Warm start problems

[Anonymous]

I have an 200cid Mustang that I have completely rebuilt the engine from scratch. It has pertronix ignitor and battery at full charge. When I start the car cold, it cranks fine. I need to give it a little gas to warm it up - but otherwise everything is fine. If I drive it around and it is fully warm, after stopping at the store or something, when I turn the key, the starter will crank a little, then stop immediately. If I do this a couple times, then usually it will start.

Any thoughts?

Thx,
Ron.

 

[CobraSix]

When you say it cranks a little and stops, you mean the starter stops cranking or hte engine dies?

If the cranking stops, you are probably experiencing heat soak on your starting causing it not to work properly. Fairly common problem. Use some insulation or try to pull the exhaust piping further away.

If the engine won't start, still a common problem, probably your engine is running too warm and you are getting vapor lock.

Slade

 

[Guest]

Do you have the timing advanced too far?

 

[Anonymous]

If you are running a header try to shield the starter from the heat. Either with insulation or a heat shield. If you are running a stock exhaust chances are that the starter is not getting more heat than it can take. Try a lower running temp by changing the thermostat or running without one for a little bit to see if that helps.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks to all for the feedback.

My '65 is pretty stock, exhaust is stock. I do not remember what temp thermostat I put in - i'll check tonight. Needle sits in the middle when warm, rad is brand new as well.

When I turn the key, the motor will not start. I can hear the starter engage the flywheel (C4 tranny) and turn it a little - it seems to halt in it's tracks. Sound effects would be helpful here - If a normal start up is Wrrr-Vroom, than this is more like a Wr (silence).

Thanks again.
Ron

 

[Anonymous]

I read that you have a new battery. Did you check the wires? Are you grounded well? Feel the cable the whole way and check to see if there is a soft spot in the insulation or a bulge. Maybe the wires are bad. I have had a wire that tested fine but when the car heated up the car wouldn't start. ended up being a bad wire. They looked ok but there was a small pin prick in the insulation and the wire rotted out inside the insulation. Gotta love the great white north. anyway, another thing to look at.

 

[CobraSix]

clean all your wire connections. When it happens, do all the electronics in the car go dead? If so, then you may need to clean the battery connections.

If not, check your connections to the starter.

Also, possibly the starter solenoid starting to go bad?

Slade

 

[Anonymous]

cobra six has a good point about the solenoid. Cheap insurance. I had one go bad in my Crown vic and my 68 mustang. the crown vic made all the electronics go wacky.

Good call.

 

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem years ago with a 69 Ford, turned out to be poor connection at the starter. Cleaned and tightened it all ok. Good luck.

 

[gtm1086]

Starter spins over fine when cold but slows down or stops when cold.

Check for good clean grounds.

Starter solenoid.

Shorted windings in the starter.

More than likely it is the starter.

 

[Anonymous]

For mt starter on my '64 Comet I bought a insulating cover. It fits veery snug on the starter and looks pretty good too. I was finding that I was wearing out more starters than I should...ZZ

 

[61Futura]

He meant slows down or stops when hot and I'd agree with the quick inspection before blaming the starter which could have shorted windings or bad brushes.

I am going to install a current meter to measure my starter current draw. I bet changes in starter current could let you know you might be losing compression, or you've got,,,,,,,,,,,? Anyway, I always start by opening the door and see how dim the dome light gets. It helps in narrowing down the possibilities.

I had a '63 Galaxie XL (390) once that had starters short out often. If you didn't get it started in 5 seconds, the battery was dead.

 

[Anonymous]

Too much spark advance can cause these very symptoms. When you put in your electronic unit, where did you set the static timing? More than 10 degrees is probably too much, especially if your timing chain is old.

If you suspect an overheated or heat-sensitive starter, carry a water bottle with you. When it's hot and exhibiting the symptom, open the hood and pour some cool water over the body of the starter. Wait about a minute to let it cool & dry a bit, then try again. If it starts OK, could be the starter - but this is rare on Fords except for the 'almost rebuilt' units I've seen from checkmate parts....

 

[80broncoman]

If it starts to crank just fine then suddenly stops it sound like the ingnition timing to me. sometimes it helps to "flood it" a tiny bit. This has worked for me before. I will pump the gas a few times and it will richen the mix where the timing does not effect it so much. I have seem starter noses break mainly on those off brand vehicles where they"hang" the starter by two bolts.
Jim