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Fixing the Heat-Soak problem

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Old 09-08-2004, 07:40 PM
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Car: 2006 'Nox 91 Camaro RS 91 1500 Silv
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Fixing the Heat-Soak problem

Have any of you guys had this problem? I'm pretty sure that I have it, and its pretty irritating especially since its 350 miles between school and home.
Those guys that have had this problem, and fixed it, what route did you take? Did you get a heat shield, and how has that worked for you? Did you do the "Hot Start Cure" from the tech article on this site and how did that work for you?

I also don't really understand the diagram that is given here

Is that thing in the middle with the "S" and "I" on it the remote solenoid? and what kind of solenoid do you get?
Are the Neutral Saftey switch, the ignition switch, the coil, acc., and the power, originally attached to the old solenoid? How do I identify them if they are? Can I leave the old solenoid in its original location?
After all this all this new solenoid will do is give the starter motor power right?
Old 09-08-2004, 11:09 PM
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not a clue on teh f*rd solinoid conversion. If you can find one, snag a heat sheild from a 93~95 3.4 f-body. I haven't heard toomany peeps complain about solinoids frying w/them on.
Old 09-09-2004, 12:09 AM
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Car: 86 Berlinetta 84 MonteCL
Engine: 3.4 MPFI 3.8 229
Transmission: 700r4 T350
I already "jacked" one off an engine I put in some kids 4thgen, but it got misplaced, now I can't find it . Oh well, time for the Sumit, heat blanket thingy
Old 09-10-2004, 08:58 AM
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Car: 89 firebird
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: auto
My car is an 89 with orginal starter and never had a problem with heat soak until this year. Dont understand why it would never happen until this year and was alright for the past 15 years. Anyways it only happens when I drive for longer than 3/4 of a gas tank. I drove 250 miles and that took 3/4 of a tank and it started up fine right after when I tested it. I have emptied my tank on 2 occasions from full and it wouldnt start for 15 -30 mins. About 300 - 325 miles of driving. Dont understand why its happening this way either. I figure it should be just as hot after 250 as it would be a 300. Anyone have an idea as to why? Maybe the old starter needs to be replaced? Well for now I bought the reflective heat blanket out of summit magizine for $25. It wraps around and velcros on. I just need the chance to test it out on another long trip to see if it worked. I will let you know when I do. I have a trp I will go on at the end of sept or early oct. This blanket did work on a 327 small block I put in an 85 firebird. Worked great for it!! Hopefully it will do the same for this car.
Old 09-10-2004, 09:29 AM
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Prolly getting to be an old tired starter solenoid. Is it not cranking at all, or just not starting? If cranking but not starting the coil could be what's getting old/heat soaked and in need of replacement....
Old 09-10-2004, 10:56 AM
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Yeah, I've never had a heat soak problem in the 10.5 years I've owned my car. It's probably just a dying starter.
Old 09-10-2004, 11:02 AM
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Car: 2006 'Nox 91 Camaro RS 91 1500 Silv
Engine: GM 3.8L, 305 SBC, 350 SBC
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The thing is, this is the second starter that I'm having this problem with. Granted they are both used starters, but when I installed this one, I had it checked and it was in proper working order.
I did however switch the solenoids, could the solenoid just be dying?
If I'm going to replace the starter, would you recommmend a stock replacement or some kind of aftermarket starter?
Old 09-10-2004, 11:07 AM
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Car: 91 Formula WS6 (Black, T-Tops)
Engine: 383 MiniRam (529 HP, 519 TQ - DD2K)
Transmission: Built '97 T56, Pro 5.0, CF-DF
Axle/Gears: 4.11 posi Ford 9"
The solenoid is the usual problem with the heat soaking as I understand it. So, by switching your old solenoid to the "new" used starter you probably carried the problem over to the second starter. Amazing how we sometimes "out-think" ourselves, isn't it?

If no extensive mods, I'd just go to O'reillys/Hi-Lo and pick up a new lifetime warranty standard starter if it was me.....
Old 09-10-2004, 11:50 AM
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Transmission: Auto, auto, auto
what do you mean by "extensive mods"? All I have is cam, roller rockers, and hopefully i'll have some headers in the coming weeks. I am leaning toward the remote solenoid right now, but I can't exactly figure out where all those wires in the diagram are located originally.
Old 09-10-2004, 12:52 PM
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AS long as the compression wasn't upped a bunch your standard starter should be fine.
Old 09-10-2004, 02:27 PM
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I went threw starters before fixing the problem. Problem is the starter sits about 1/4 of an inch from the exhuast manifold. The cap on the end of the solinoid ware the wires connect is made of plastic. It gets hot and get brittle. The plastic around the main wire breaks and no longer makes a good contact.

Buy new starter and heat blanket. Wrap the starter and you shouldn't have a problem again.

This only seems to be a problem for those who drive more than 1 hour every day. I have a 2 1/2 hour commute each way to and from work every day. Some times longer if some has a septacular wipe out a long my route.
Old 09-10-2004, 02:34 PM
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I have a question just a little off topic but not much.

It has been so long since I replced the starter in this car that I can't remember but- Does anyone know if this is the same style starter as a V8 one? If I recall, the bolt pattern is different? Dale and I have spoken breifly about this recently when he told me he come accross some info that there was a hightorque starter that came stock in a blazer, or S10 or something.

I mainly asking if anyone knows offhand if there is a COMPACT miin high-torque starter availible on the market that will fit our 60*V6's?
Old 09-11-2004, 12:31 AM
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Bitchin; that's interesting. I do take my car on long drives, but I never do long trips every single day. Altho you'd think those 6-8 hour drives I used to do for MD, VA, and NC would've shown some kind of heat soak problems. (I'm a big fan of getting a large coffee, driving like hell, pulling over for a rest station, and getting another big coffee. That turns into quite a few stops )

I think the starters are the same style, but I never held a V8 starter in my hands. I'd imagine the bolt pattern would be slighty different since the v6's are metric. Let us know what you find!
Old 09-11-2004, 02:30 AM
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TOm
I think it has do with how often I drive for extend periods. I went threw 4 starters in the span of six months. Each time it was the same problem. I had a lifetime warranty, but replacing the starter got old pretty quick! After putting the heat blanket on 9 months ago I haven't had a problem.

I hate it when they make critical componets out of plastic!!!
Old 09-11-2004, 02:38 AM
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Check out this web site that I found.

http://www.novaresource.org/starter.htm

It is similar to the tech article here on tgo but has an alternative to the ford solenoid. The alternative involves a relay instead, that allows you to leave the wiring where it is.
Old 09-13-2004, 04:38 PM
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When my last starter died back in '98, I had a spare one in the basement from my old parts car. I told the ex that it would only take a half hour since I'd done the job before. Well... it turned into a 6 hour job!! The back of the solenoid (the plastic) cracked when I was trying to loosen the B+ terminal nut. So that left me with a stud and a frozen nut! Of course you know there's no room to work up there... I struggled for a while with bolt cutters and vise grips and pliers and EVERYTHING. Finally I powered up the compressor and got the cut-off tool going, and cut the nut off the stud. Then I put the starter in from the basement, wire it all up, and turn the key- and got nothing. Pulled the starter out and hooked it right up to the battery to test it- I got a huge spark. Damn thing shorted out internally- so I was screwed until the morning when the starter/alternator shop opened up.

So that damn plastic turned me into a fool ("Yeah, only a half hour job")...

Funny thing was, that spare basement starter worked when I took it off that car. So I turned that frozen piece of junk in as my core!
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