Engine won't turn over when hot

[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

[Tomzstream]

My Dad had a 57 Chevy Wagon which did the same thing. After many years of misdiagnosis, and various attempts to fix, he came to the realization that the battery sat very close to the exhaust manifold and was getting so hot it lost its charge... temporarily. Sometimes the answer is right in front of you.

[r carl]

Jump starting will tell you if its the battery, but its probably the starter.

[Isuzusweet]

Check your coil…..I had a 1969 Dodge Dart 340 GTS convertible that wouldn't start when hot. I would have to leave it for 1/2 an hour or so before it would rumble back to life again. It was the main coil that sent boosted power to the distributor.

Work from least expensive to most.
Check battery
Check wires
Check coil
Check starter solenoid

[In Cornwall]

Originally Posted by Tomzstream

My Dad had a 57 Chevy Wagon which did the same thing. After many years of misdiagnosis, and various attempts to fix, he came to the realization that the battery sat very close to the exhaust manifold and was getting so hot it lost its charge... temporarily. Sometimes the answer is right in front of you.

Thank you all - that's some great advice, we'll give them all a go!

Cute thing - even stranded at the gas station we were getting some lovely comments from people about how much they loved our Argosy :-)

[ViewRVs]

My 345 did the same thing and my Argosy 20 (both with 454 engines) has hints of that. My hunch is the starter gets too hot from the engine. I think some have put some kind of heat shield around the starter. Check the engines and transmission section (back in the motorhome section) for threads on the starter.

It is pretty embarrassing when your old rig won't start back up at a gas station pump!

[ViewRVs]

On your Argosy, the battery is on the side of the coach in a box away from the engine so I doubt the battery is getting too hot. If that was the case, the driver would be cooked as well!

[jdalrymple]

Retarded engine timing can produce this effect.

If the other advice does not fix the issue, advance the distributor a couple degrees.


Regards,

JD

[SteveH]

Like others have said, I'd bet it's the starter. You didn't say, but we're assuming you have a 454 Chevy engine, and Chevy starters are notorious for doing that. It's called heat soak, and to stop it put a heat shield around the starter. Here's one that should do the trick: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mrg-3678/overview/

[Jim Foster]

Most Street Rods are powered by Chevy engines. Most have heating problems due to small engine compartments. Many have toe same hot start problem. It seems that the Chevy starter solenoid, which is located on top of the starter, has difficulty working of it gets too hot. Many, including myself, have overcome this frustration problem by installing a Ford type solenoid to operate the Chevy solenoid. I don't know just why this fixes the problem, but it does. Use # 10 wire for the installation. My starter has never failed when hot since I made this modifIcation.

[andreasduess]

One of my old Land Rovers uses to do that. It was the old starter motor getting too hot. A new starter motor fixed it.

[In Cornwall]

Thank you all so much for sharing your experience and advice. We have plenty to try this weekend!

Chris and Beverly

[Jim Foster]

Try this.
http://www.hotrodhardware.com/cartim...01211281358570

[Jim Foster]

This is from Ron Francis wiring.

http://www.hotrodhardware.com/cartim...01211281358570

Go to their website and read about it. It will solve your hot start. Problem forever.

[In Cornwall]

Yes, you assumed right - our Argosy has a Chevy 454 big block engine

[In Cornwall]

Originally Posted by ViewRVs

My 345 did the same thing and my Argosy 20 (both with 454 engines) has hints of that. My hunch is the starter gets too hot from the engine. I think some have put some kind of heat shield around the starter. Check the engines and transmission section (back in the motorhome section) for threads on the starter.

It is pretty embarrassing when your old rig won't start back up at a gas station pump!

Luckily the owners were pretty relaxed about us taking up 3 pumps and we had a picnic with us, so could have been worse

[SteveH]

I know it's probably pretty poor access in a motor home, but in an emergency you can tap on the starter solenoid with a small hammer and that will make it work.

[In Cornwall]

Originally Posted by SteveH

I know it's probably pretty poor access in a motor home, but in an emergency you can tap on the starter solenoid with a small hammer and that will make it work.

Thanks Steve - we think it's getting too hot rather than stuck... but we'll carry a toffee hammer and a small child with us to lower into the engine bay in case it works 😉

[SteveH]

Yea, the starter gets hot, and causes the solenoid to stick. Common problem with Chevys.

[In Cornwall]

Thanks Steve - I'm learning loads!

Beverly