Engine won't turn over when hot

[r carl]

Originally Posted by In Cornwall

Hi all, can anyone help with a mystery with our Argosy 24 engine... When we've been out and stop the engine wont start - it seems the battery is flat BUT if we leave it for a couple of hours - it will start again no problem!

Has anyone come across that problem and knows what it is and what we need to do to fix it?

We'd be very grateful for any wisdom!

Many thanks Chris and Beverly Hill

I think you need to be more specific what you mean by does not start. No sound when you turn the key, a click, a clunk, or cranks slowly?

[In Cornwall]

Hi Carl, we get a clunk and then clicks and will not turn over. But once the engine has cooled down it will fire up no problem 😞

[DFlores]

Ignition coil

[r carl]

Originally Posted by In Cornwall

Hi Carl, we get a clunk and then clicks and will not turn over. But once the engine has cooled down it will fire up no problem ��

Solenoid is ok.
Have you tried jump starting it?

[In Cornwall]

Thanks Carl - that's the direction we're heading in 😊

[Silvertwinkie]

Vapor lock? Saw this happen on another engine with a carb as a fuel delivery system.

[Tomzstream]

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

Vapor lock? Saw this happen on another engine with a carb as a fuel delivery system.

LOL! That was my Dad's best theory until he moved on to the battery being too hot. Then again the starter solenoid theory sounds good too. He sold the 57 chevy wagon for $150 in 68 and never looked back. BTW it was a small block (283 ci). Just saw one on EBAY for 12K reserve not met. They are actually asking 30K on their website. Bet it has the same problem!

I would recommend using the process of elimination, without waiting 30 minutes... Try giving different components a blast from a CO2 extinguisher and see which one responds to the cool down test.

[drboyd]

It's the starter solenoid. Common GM issue, as noted above. If you're the adventurous sort, you can get a super-size soda cup of water and throw it up on the starter from underneath. Count to 10 and turn the key.

Obligatory Story:

My son had just graduated from college, and we were driving across the country to take him to grad school in his 76 Nova; it did that at a Subway stop somewhere in Ohio.

Now, he's an annoyingly sharp kid, but when he turned the key and nothing happened, he had this deer in the headlights look that I'd only seen maybe once before on him.

Dad walks back in the Subway with a cup he fished out of the trash, fills it up with water from the fountain, throws it up on the starter, waits a few seconds, and says, "OK - start it now!"

Moral: Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill!

[r carl]

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

Vapor lock? Saw this happen on another engine with a carb as a fuel delivery system.

Originally Posted by Tomzstream

LOL! That was my Dad's best theory until he moved on to the battery being too hot. Then again the starter solenoid theory sounds good too. He sold the 57 chevy wagon for $150 in 68 and never looked back. BTW it was a small block (283 ci). Just saw one on EBAY for 12K reserve not met. They are actually asking 30K on their website. Bet it has the same problem!

I would recommend using the process of elimination, without waiting 30 minutes... Try giving different components a blast from a CO2 extinguisher and see which one responds to the cool down test.

Originally Posted by drboyd

It's the starter solenoid. Common GM issue, as noted above. If you're the adventurous sort, you can get a super-size soda cup of water and throw it up on the starter from underneath. Count to 10 and turn the key.

Obligatory Story:

My son had just graduated from college, and we were driving across the country to take him to grad school in his 76 Nova; it did that at a Subway stop somewhere in Ohio.

Now, he's an annoyingly sharp kid, but when he turned the key and nothing happened, he had this deer in the headlights look that I'd only seen maybe once before on him.

Dad walks back in the Subway with a cup he fished out of the trash, fills it up with water from the fountain, throws it up on the starter, waits a few seconds, and says, "OK - start it now!"

Come on now guy's, he said we get a clunk and then clicks and will not turn over. That means the solenoid is working but not getting sufficient voltage.

[Jim Foster]

One more time.

The starter solenoid on a Chevy does more than supply electricity to the starter. It also has the job of kicking the starter bendix gear into the flywheel. When the solenoid gets hot it requires more amperage to do the job. The 14 or sometimes 16 gauge wire from the ignition switch is not large enough to do the job when the solenoid is hot. If you use a Ford type starter solenoid mounted on the fender well or fire wall it will stay cool. Detach the wire that comes from the ignition switch from the Chevy solenoid, and us it to activate the Ford . Use #10 wire from the terminal on the starter where the large battery cable attaches to one of the large terminals on the Ford solenoid, and another #10 wire from the other large terminal on the Ford solenoid to the terminal where you removed the ignition switch wire on the Chevy solenoid. When you hit the start on your key switch the ford solenoid will supply more than enough amperage to the Chevy solenoid to allow it to do it's job when hot. This is what I do on all street rods.
Or, you can get the Ron Francis "Chevy Hot Start Kit". It does the same job the same way.

Or,,,,,,,you can wait until things cool off,or,,,,,,,you can climb under with a hammer and give it a tap (might work) or,,, you can try to cool it off with water.

We all have choices to make in life.

[Tomzstream]

Or you can purchase a nice sized CO2 Fire extinguisher with a funnel spout and blast away to cool it down (a short burst does the trick). Also useful for quick chilling a 6 pack of beer while you wait! LOL!

[Jim Foster]

Great idea

Now why didn't I think of that. I love a good beer on a hot day

Cheers, Jim

[Jim Foster]

After some thought, the fire extinguisher may be better than the actual modification that I outlined. My fix will solve the hot start problem forever, but it will not cool beer, this loosing many opportunities for a cold one.

[In Cornwall]

Thanks Jim, we've got our Chevy supplier checking out a high torque starter and new solenoid and a hear sheet - all angles covered! Sounds like you've had to tell us newby's how to sort it out many times - thank you, you've got your excellent explanation real slick

[In Cornwall]

Originally Posted by Tomzstream

Or you can purchase a nice sized CO2 Fire extinguisher with a funnel spout and blast away to cool it down (a short burst does the trick). Also useful for quick chilling a 6 pack of beer while you wait! LOL!

LOL!! I think we'll forget the new starter and just go for a fire extinguisher - we'll use it on the beers and drink them while the motor cools down 😃

[Isuzusweet]

This thread is one of those epic threads that are started by a simple question which is answered in the very first couple of reply's then continues on to thread hell.

Unless the OP posts what results he found I think this thread should die.

PS as I stated earlier…..it's the coil.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

This thread is one of those epic threads that are started by a simple question which is answered in the very first couple of reply's then continues on to thread hell.

Unless the OP posts what results he found I think this thread should die.

PS as I stated earlier…..it's the coil.

The 454 motor probably has a HEI distributor.

[In Cornwall]

Hi guys - just to say a big thank you.

We fitted a new high torque mini starter motor with heat shield and our hot start problem is sorted... We've taken the Argosy on two trips now and he's been perfectly behaved :-) thank goodness - we were staying in the grounds of Sir Walter Raleigh's castle in Sherborne with our hotrod and that would have been embarrassing if we couldn't leave ;-)

Chris and Beverly




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[scamp]

You say it's hard to turn over hot I say you need a starter, I would also do a load test on the battery.