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Re: GM starter no restart when "hot" repair?

To: "DSRGR@aol.com" <DSRGR@aol.com>, spridgets@autox.team.net,
Subject: Re: GM starter no restart when "hot" repair?
From: "cfchrist@earthlink.net" <cfchrist@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 13:28:45 -0400
you are correct about  the heat shield.   it was a very thin aluminum piece 
with about 1/4" thick of some insulation (fiberglass like stuff) adhered to the 
back side and it was literally clipped to the starter solenoid.   i've seen 
'em.   somewhere i have the darn clip too!  
if memory serves me right they were standard issue on fiero starters.    at one 
point i was a GM tech at a pontiac dealership.
but what are the chances of finding one of those still on a car anywhere these 
days.......as stated previously, most got discarded when the starter was 
replaced over time.   or, were so ratty that there was no way to properly 
reinstall them.
GM has a serious problem over time with mostly trucks (although my SS454 '70 
montecarlo did this too!) of wrapping the exhaust around the right side of the 
motor very close to the starter.   not being a rocket scientist(hey, i race a 3 
cylinder saab! and have a really old sprite!) i'm not certain about the physics 
of heat and it's effect on electromagnetism.   but that is the GM "heat soak" 
problem.    if you super heat the solenoid(radiant engine heat in combination 
with radiant right side exhaust heat UNDER LOAD) the starter solenoid gets so 
hot the electromagnetic field wich engauges the bendix as well as completes the 
circut to crank the starter , fails to work.   let it cool off over time 
sitting(around an hour) bring refrigerant and freeze the solenoid, dump cool 
water on the starter or what ever works, and it will crank as if nothing was 
ever wrong!   tow a heavy trailer through some mountains, take a few reteted 
runs at speed on a drag strip, or anything more than a sunday cruise and any GM 
model can fail to restart once shut off.   as far as i know it's a GM problem 
or more so, a delco starter problem.   but ask any old time GM mechanic and 
they may reluctantly admit to this phenomenon.   

chuck.
in spite of evryone saying "chuck , you can not tow with that darn old 
van......it works!   but it runs hot around the starter area and shutting it 
off at gas and food breaks can be time consuming!    ;)


----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: cfchrist@earthlink.net;spridgets@autox.team.net;vintage-race@autox.team.net
Sent: 04/19/2005 11:41:51 AM 
Subject: Re: GM starter no restart when "hot" repair?



that year chev came out with a heat shield..usually when somebody works on the 
starter
they leave the heat shield off.. its to much bother to reinstall.. try any kind 
of heat shield
and it should work ok
----------chico------------





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