Starter does nothing when HOT...

[gmrulz4u]

If trying to start my car when the engine is HOT results in NOTHING (ie no noise, no click , no turning over etc.), what exactly could the problem be? It's an 89 Cutlass with a 2.8L engine.

 

Is it definately the starter or possibly something else? It's fine during the winter and sometimes will just take a few tries of turning the key, but the odd time I could be sitting and waiting for over 10 minutes for it to cool down...

[jeremy]

http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php/topic,27636.0.html

[slick]

Put on a new starter and be happy.

 

 

[tdaye]

If it was the starter you would still hear the click of the starter solenoid, if it was the starter solenoid you would still here the spin of the starter...try looking at the ECM

[DOHCRagtopguy]

If it was the starter you would still hear the click of the starter cylinoid, if it was the starter cylinoid you would still here the spin of the starter

 

This is incorrect. Sometimes if the solenoid is bad you can turn the key and not have anything happen. Also if the brushes hang up it will not do anything. If it's brushes you can give it a whack or two and it will then start. Also sometimes when the starter is old and the motor is hot sometimes it doesn't have the strength to kick it over.

 

 

[tdaye]

I've found in repairing similar problems if it was hot and didn't have the strength to kick it over he would still hear a noise...clicking or something...it doesn't take alot of power to work the solenoid alone, and if it was the starter motor itself you would still hear the solenoid trying to engage the starter gear. Tapping the starter could make it work if the starter was trying to engage but the starter motor was not spinning because of a problem with the brushes, that’s not what it sounds like seeing as he gets NO sounds at all. So you’re partly right... It would have to be the solenoid or a deeper problem. I would say it's not the starter itself.

[Canada]

A quick check! Grab a test light and check the purple wire to ground.....if it flashes, and the start does nothing....and you have power at the big post..replace the starter!

[Slade901]

Get yourself a remote starter from local autoparts store. It's about $15 or less. Clip one end to the battery + terminal and other end to the starter motor and push the button on this remote starter. If the engine does not turn over, probably you have a bad starter or probably needs tightening it up as the teeth and gears might not be aligning. I've seen engine sometimes turns over and not when hot because the starter motor was loose because its bolts were loose.

[GnatGoSplat]

A bad park/neutral switch could do it too.

 

[corning_d3]

Not one person mentioned a weak battery.

[GnatGoSplat]

I've never heard of a weak battery that works better when cold than hot. Every weak battery I've seen was the opposite way around. Not saying it's not possible, I've just never experienced that.

 

[turby]

Not one person mentioned a weak battery.

 

Maybe because a battery doesn't go dead then a few minutes later suddenly have enough charge to start the car.