Thread: Starting Problems

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A friend has a '69 Stingray and is computer challenged, so I told him I'd try to find an answer for him. His car starts up fine the first couple of starts of the day and then gets progressively harder to start as the day continues. We live in LA (Lower Alabama)and it is hot here. He says that the battery is fine and wonders if it is the starter wearing out. I believe it is an all stock car, no engine mods, etc. I've seen a heat shield sold in Summit to prevent or reduce "heat soaking". What is heat soaking and could this be the problem on my friends Vette? Any help would be much appreciated.

I had a similar problem on my car. right before hte starter died...but the problem was kind of intermittent, and with an expensive starter ($120) i hesitated to try that - what finally got me to change the starter? it got progressivley harder to start, just as you are experienceing, and then it was a nearly no crank. found a loose batt cable, blamed that, but a jump didn't help. let it charge a while, and then got it to start. got home, to check tings over, and when i went to restart the starter screached like nuthin' you never heard! replaced starter, and the first thing i noticed was the engine cranked at about twice the RPM as with the old starter...and the old starter bench tested fine!!

As to heat soak...on a hot day, with ac on or what not, get the car good and hot (long slow drive up a hill...like 45 minutes maybe) and then get it home (!) and let it idle a bit to get things hotter and shut it off. wait 5 minutes (time it takes to pump gas is usually about right) and see if car starts, cranks, or cranks very slowly. if it cranks slow or not at all, try a hevay duty/hi torque starter and a heat shield.