[SOLVED] No crank when hot

[WaltZ]

Last week, the coolant hose by the air filter box burst. By the time I managed to pull over, the temp gauge was in the red. I let it cool down a bit and tried to restart and get it to other other side of the street. There was no crank (all other electric worked) and I assumed it was some safety feature to prevent the engine from being cooked. I let is cool a bit more and it finally started.

After getting all the hoses, thermostat and coil #2 replaced, I drove 20 miles home from work and stopped at the gas station. I tried to start it and there was no crank again (all electric works). After about 30 minutes waiting for a flatbed, I turned the key and it fired right up. This has now happened several times only when the engine is hot. Once I wait a bit (1/2hr to an hour), it starts right up. The only time it only took 5 minutes is on Sunday when I was getting a gas can filled. No crank, so I put it in neutral and pushed it away from the pumps. Once in park, I turned to key and it started.


-I am using my never-used spare key, in case my regular key was worn

-I tried jiggling the key while trying to start it (saw that on Youtube)

-Battery has been checked. Its good. I also cleaned the terminals

-All wires (that I see) seem to be connected and not melted


Ideas where to look next?

Thanks

 

[Munchie]

It's not cranking but can you hear anything when you turn the key (i.e. the relay click)?

 

[michael loibl]

Bad starters often make a no crank when hot, but usually need a few hours of cool down before starting, not a few minutes

 

[WaltZ]

Munchie- yes, I could hear clicking Friday and Saturday, but not since then.

Michael- it was just that one time that took 5 minutes, otherwise, it's been over 30 minutes all the other times.

Came home tonight, turned it off, then tried starting again immediately and no crank. Just went out 2 hrs later and it started, twice. The temp gauge is in the middle of cold and normal.

The starter is one of the few parts I haven't replaced, so I'm leaning towards that.

 

[Munchie]

Not hearing the click may indicate an issue with the relay. I wonder if the coolant might have shorted something out.

I remember years ago with a Mustang I had (1992) I would randomly not be able to start it and their would be no click at all. I'd get out pop the hood/close the door, muck around under the hood like I knew what I was doing (lol) and then suddenly I could start it again. I soon realized it wasn't me mucking around that "fixed" it, it was me getting out closing the door, slamming the hood that was. Turned out it was a loose wire at the relay on the inside of the fender.

 

[gdgiordano]

I believe a ground is attached to the fender aft of the air cleaner box(not sure if it’s the right curcuit). Maybe find it remove it and clean it. Burnt/dried antifreeze could’ve gotten between the attachment and the ground point. I’m not sure if antifreeze crusties are conducive or not. If they aren’t then there’s the circuit break.

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

Have you tried by passing the starter solenoid when you have the "no start when hot" issue?

 

[WaltZ]

Munchie- I listened carefully this morning after getting to work and there is a click behind the gauge cluster.

Unfortunately my mechanical knowledge is limited as is my tool cabinet.

 

[michael loibl]

If you’re able to access the connection of the trigger wire on the starter, you could temporarily attach a long wire to it and run it up to a small lightbulb in the interior and ground it that way you will be able to see when you turn the key to start if you’re losing power to the starter when it does not crank.

 

[thebrakeman]

If the starter relay clicks every time, but the starter itself only works after given some time to cool down, it sounds like the starter (or connections to the starter) is the issue.
Check all of the connections, to see if the heat cycling could be opening things up in a bad way. Otherwise, consider a replacement starter.

 

[WaltZ]

I ended up bringing it to the dealer. It was a bad starter

Thanks everyone for your help

 

[katsov]

I think autozone can check starters as well as batteries and alternators. Dealer fees ain't worth it.