Starter Heat Shield

[MandarinSixSeven]

With the hot weather and all my driving around lately, my starter has been crapping out. I'm pretty sure its just overheating, since when I go to start it, there is just nothing, no clicks no armature action...nothing. still lots of power in the battery, usually just have to wait a few minutes and it fires up.

So, my question is, how do you install the shields? where do they bolt on?
I just have corvette style ramhorns, but aparently they still get pretty hot. Any help/suggestions would be nice

Thanks,
-Benson

[smitty62]

If you haven't already, I'd look at the grounds before I blamed the starter. I've driven SBC's since 1956 and I've never had a starter fail because of heat soak. Not saying it doesn't happen, just that it's a lot rarer than most think. The real problem is usually covered over when the starter's replaced, ie: accompanied by new cables, battery, alternator, etc.

[c10chevy69]

I would check the ground cable first. I had this problem last weekend. Battery showed 12.6 but no voltage to anything at all. At first I thought it was the voltage regulator, but I cut the chewed up cable end and reattached it. No problems since fires up everytime.

[MandarinSixSeven]

which ground are we talkin here?
the one on the battery?

[c10chevy69]

Sorry. Yes the negative battery cable. If it's not getting good contact then you've got nothing.

[MandarinSixSeven]

ok cool, I just replaced the battery terminal on the negative side, see how that works

[sneakysnake]

You should at least here the solenoid clicking, like the others said check your wiring, may have a bad solenoid but the prices these days its easier to change the whole thing.

[smitty62]

Check the grounds on BOTH ends! One is no more important than the other.!!!!

[MandarinSixSeven]

Ya, I plan to for sure.
I just don't feel like crawling under there tonight 1/2 is better than nothing for now

And, Sneaky Snake, I've had solenoid go bad before...this one isn't like that, my old one you could hear it click, this one is just no response from the starter

[Cruiser71]

If the cable dosnt do the trick, try Ecklers or Mid America Corvette for a started heat shield.

[thisolechevy]

I bought mine from napa, it was only $32.00 and it did the trick! it was really easy to install also. Your starter will have 2 bolts on the butt side facing the front of the truck, you simply undo one of them and bolt on the heat shield with that bolt, and one on the selinoid (sp.???)

[MandarinSixSeven]

Originally Posted by thisolechevy

I bought mine from napa, it was only $32.00 and it did the trick! it was really easy to install also. Your starter will have 2 bolts on the butt side facing the front of the truck, you simply undo one of them and bolt on the heat shield with that bolt, and one on the selinoid (sp.???)

Awesome man, thanks! Thats what I wanted to hear for if the grounds don't fix it.

[gabet40]

i bought mine at kragen, a spectre one. however i kept having that problem so it sounds like i shouldve been checkin my negative cable (or my headers were just that hot). the reason i never thought of it is cuz the started only did that when the engine was hot and never in the winter. coincidence? who knows

[walker]

I live in the desert where it gets hot, nothin' personal but I don't think you BCers know what hot is, and I have never had trouble with starter heat soak. Most times it is poor connections, poor cables, poor quality replacement parts, etc that is the problem.
Now when it gets cold here, and I mean REALLY COLD!!! like forty degrees, maybe you all could help me with a block heater, and snow tires.

[MandarinSixSeven]

so, what is starter heat soak?
liike you turn the key and not a sound or what?

[Cruiser71]

Originally Posted by walker

Now when it gets cold here, and I mean REALLY COLD!!! like forty degrees, maybe you all could help me with a block heater, and snow tires.

cold=40 degrees?????

[gabet40]

i think it also depends on where you get your starter. i bought a remanufactured one and just kept replacing it under warranty. but id like to imagine that the original GMs are a little stronger

[lewi]

Right, wrong, or indifferent I put one on mine and haven't had any troubles since. I think I know what hot is, over 100 degrees most summers every day for 6 weeks, 110 and above is not uncommon. I agree 40 degrees is quite cold!

[busterwivell]

40 is inhumane! I like it when it's about 100. I've got a 402 BB in my truck. I was going through a starter every 6 months (hot or cold) for 4 years. I switched to a mini starter 3 years ago (this August) and I haven't had a problem since.

[jorgensensc]

I put a ford remote starter solenoid on mine and it worked perfect. i will try and find you a part number and websight. It gets rid of the problem of heat soak all together.
Shawn

[MandarinSixSeven]

It was 100 degrees (american) today...but I didn't get to test it But as far as the weather goes I will probably get plenty of time to test it

[Quagmire]

food for thought, i had a similar problem and it turned out to be my ignition switch. it was intermittent though, so the problem wasn't too easy to find. i actually stumbled upon it on accident

just in case you seeking alternate troubleshooting methods

[Cruiser71]

Try replacing the purple wire from the switch to the starter. It happened to me. Kragan (Shucks) starters need to be installed with velcro. They only last a few weeks. I would go with a good Napa or A/C Delco rebuilt. Worth the extra money. The others seem to be a spray can rebuild!

[67chevemall]

Nice mini high torquer will fix that problem!
They are bullet proof!

[raggedjim]

When I had this problem the bushings in the starter were bad. When it was cool it would start but when everything got hot the bushings expanded enough for the armature to touch the stator and it would lock up. I didn't figure this out until I had put on the ford solenoid (which ain't a bad idea, it makes it so the only time the positive cable to the starter is hot is when the ignition is at start.)

Good luck, Rg