Engine dosn't turn over when car is hot

[cdub]

Currently when the car is cold, i.e. has sat for more than ~1 hr or so, it starts up right away. When the car is hot, turn the key and nothing happens, starter motor doesn’t turn over, no audible click from he solenoid, nothing but the dash lights come on. If I let it sit it will start again after 1-1.5 hrs.

I had this problem a few years back after getting the car back from a new engine installation and I replaced the presumably original starter with a lightweight unit I ordered online. Until a few weeks ago it hadn’t happened since, so the chance it’s the starter/solenoid seems unlikely to me.

The only other thing I can think of would be a grounding issue, perhaps it is this as another motor was recently installed, maybe the ground strap between the motor and the firewall doesn’t have a good connecting? I do have a new negative battery cable from caspers I could throw in as well.

Anything I'm missing here? Other ideas/thoughts?

 

[TurboDave]

Bad starter/solenoid. Heat soak does that to them when they're going belly up. My Z28 does the same thing only not quite to the point of not turning over yet. I'm just too lazy to change the starter.

 

[BlackoutDrunk]

I had a problem similar to this on my 70 cutlass and it was heat related. A wire going to my starter would get hot and apparently hot wires (hot temperature wise) don't conduct electricity as well and the car would not turn over until the car sat for awhile and cooled off.

 

[usetaboost]

is your heat shield on?

 

[cdub]

is your heat shield on?

The turbo heat shield is not on, I noticed the plastic conduit on one of the positive battery cables was showing some heat damage so I rerouted it father from the turbo/dp. Could not having the shield on cause this no start issue?

 

[usetaboost]

I'd just be done with it and put a NEW starter on it and make sure the heat shield is over the starter and put a new cable on

 

[cdub]

I don't have the heat shield for the starter, was never there since I have had the car, maybe it fell off, dunno. Any idea where I can find one?

 

[MSDGN]

I bet it's the starter solenoid...just went through this a couple of weeks ago...if you want to verify...get to the point where it's hot...you turn the key and nothing happens...jack up the pass side...smack the solenoid a few times with a wrench...see if it starts...if you do need a starter get a mini-starter...much lighter...easier to install...lots of room...wish I would have gotten one a long time ago...

 

[cdub]

I bet it's the starter solenoid...just went through this a couple of weeks ago...if you want to verify...get to the point where it's hot...you turn the key and nothing happens...jack up the pass side...smack the solenoid a few times with a wrench...see if it starts...if you do need a starter get a mini-starter...much lighter...easier to install...lots of room...wish I would have gotten one a long time ago...

Ya that was my first thought on it, but since I had replaced the starter with a lightweight starter a few years ago, I kind of doubted it at first. Anyways I ordered a Mini High Torque Starter from CSR yesterday.