RE: Heat-soaked starters...

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

> Of course, when the starter gets hot, it also demands more current to turn
> 
> over so in a roundabout way, I guess you can call this a "heat soak"
> problem. 
>  But in my experience, the real problem is the wiring's inability to
> deliver 
> the current and adding a relay shouldn't cost more than $7-10 complete.  
> Chalk it up as another Ur-Q electrical shortcoming...
> 
... the same thing happened on my '78 Audi Fox ... so I doubt it is an "ur-q
electrical shortcoming" ... I also have seen starter solenoid heat shields
for sale in "speed shops" for Ford and Chevy starters ... in all sorts of
neato colors too so it is clear to me that Audi doesn't hold the only honors
in the category of starter solenoids that are susceptible to heat.  When I
asked about the heat shields they asked me if I had a Chevy ... as the
problem appeared to be quite common with them.  

... face facts ... you've got an old car!  Over time and with use most parts
of a car deteriorate ... you may notice the same thing personally in the
components of your own body ... over time and with use they just don't seem
to work as well as they did when they were new.  Just as you may need
bifocals because your corneas have hardened a bit and you can't focus near
-and- far you might find that a load reduction relay might help that starter
work as well hot as it does cold.  On my car simply fitting a rebuilt
starter _with_heat_shields_ was sufficient to get me starting reliably, but
as I said before ... when I install my headlight relays the worn starter
solenoid and tired ignition switch will be getting a little assist from a
brand new relay ...

... while I'm here, let me pass along my idea for a way you can wire up a
number of relays into a nicely sealed box.  The ABS controller is mounted
under the rear seat in many 5k/100/200/??? cars.  This means that it will
not have seen a lot of abuse during its life.  It provides a good sealed
metal box with high quality and high current capacity connectors.  If you
find a 5k in a wrecking yard see if the ABS controller is still there ... I
really don't think there's much demand for them.  You can now mount your
relays under the hood with little fear that they will be exposed to all the
elements ...

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)