Starter solenoid question

[72moneypit]

Does heat from the engine affect the starter solenoid? Specifically, can the solenoid stop working when it's really hot, but work fine after it's cooled down? I vaguely remember reading about this subject but can't search to find the thread.

Thanks,
Paul

[JimKshortstep4x4]

Yes it can work when cold and not when hot. Heat shields tend to help and some folks put remote solenoids on their vehicles. Headers seem to cause the most heat and the most trouble.

Other items that help alleviate the problem are larger batteries and heavy battery cables.

Jim

[Chad]

Yup, had the same thing happen on my dads '71. Fixed it by putting a remote solenoid on it and a started heat shield. You can get the remote solenoid at any autoparts place.

Chad

[1970 CST Short Wide]

My starter is donig this as we speak. HOW do you hook up the remote solenoid????????

[barn9]

I got my remote solenoid kit from MAD Enterprises. There is some good info on his site, and the kit contains everything you need to do it right.
http://www.madelectrical.com/index.shtml

[tom hand]

The main thing that happens is the solenoid requires more amperage when hot that the wire to the S terminal can't supply. 9 times out of 10 if it won't start because its hot, it will start if you short it with a screwdriver. In the remote setups you just run a large wire from the main battery terminal on the solenoid to the S terminal, then install a f*rd type solenoid in the cable from the battery to the solenoid.

[72moneypit]

Originally posted by tom hand
The main thing that happens is the solenoid requires more amperage when hot that the wire to the S terminal can't supply. 9 times out of 10 if it won't start because its hot, it will start if you short it with a screwdriver. In the remote setups you just run a large wire from the main battery terminal on the solenoid to the S terminal, then install a f*rd type solenoid in the cable from the battery to the solenoid.

This is excellent info - Thanks! Quickly shorting the system is easier and less expensive that a tow truck. Also, when it happened to me I was at the yard waste area of the landfill in 105 degree temps.. not a situation I'm willing to risk again.

I'm no mechanic, but could you simply install a higher-gauge wire to the S terminal?

[raggedjim]

Tom, sorry, I'm kinda slow sometimes. What throws the bendix out if you bypass the solenoid on the starter??? I thought (trouble already...) the solenoid was attached to the bendix and when the solenoid was energized the bendix would engage. I need to do this also, damn those cheap azzed headers...

Thanks, Roger

[JimKshortstep4x4]

Money Pit,

You could run a larger wire to the "S" terminal, but you have the power feed wire and the ignition switch itself that could be contributing to the problem. That is why a remote solenoid works
since you have heavy cables feeding it.

One of the other fixes that I ran across is to add an assist spring to the starter that helps push the plunger inside the solenoid.
Not sure if it would work and don't think that it is worth trying. This problem has been around for a long time!

Jim

[71-longbed]

my starter sometimes stays engaged even after the engine is started ..making a loud grinding noise .... i shimmed it a few weeks ago and it stopped for a little while ..now its doing it again ....any suggestions would rock ...thanks

[tom hand]

raggedjim your not slow I was just in a hurry when I replied...

1. Remove wire from S terminal on solenoid
2. Install large gauge jumper wire from S terminal to the large terminal that the battery connects to.This wire will only be a couple inches long.
3. Cut the positive battery cable in half. Install F*rd type solenoid between the halves.
4. Install the wire that was on the S terminal of the GM solenoid to the F*rd solenoid.

So what happens is the battery cable is dead past the F*rd solenoid. When the key is turned it is hot and the original solenoid is activated by the jumper wire you installed. The added advantage of this with headers is the "dead"battery wire to the starter...I can't count how many battery meltdowns I have seen because the positive cable melted to the headers.

[raggedjim]

Tom, thanks, I got it now. I may draw it up and post it.

Roger