I have a starting problem with my 69 SS 350.If the car is running for more than15-20 minutes and I shut it off, it won't restart for about 15 minutes. I've changed the starter and the problem still exists. Could it be a bad ignition? any suggestions are appreciated
Mark

 

have you checked the wires going from the starter to the battery ? or maybe even the wires to the alternator ? what kind of voltage readings are you getting ?

 

thanks for the quick reply. i should have said that when the car won't start after running for 15 minutes it is dead. no clicking no partial turn over. the voltage checks out ok.

 

yeah id say check the wires out, sounds like it could be a bad connection or a short in the wire

 

Do you have headers? You are going to need to see if you are getting power to the small wire on the starterwhen the car will not start.

 

Sounds like the dreaded starter solenoid "heat soak" problem that can often happen, especially if you have headers and no starter heat shield (which is what Gorn was probably hinting at). A heat shield, or better yet, a remote Ford style starter solenoidmounted away from the hot engine (inner fender),should cure that ill. You can find the remote kit atplaces like Summit.
EDIT: The remote solenoid also makes for a handy under-hood junction block, and gives easy access to hook up a remote starter switch for tune-up time.

 

Yea, most of the time I hear this complaint its the headers getting the starter too hot. Every once in awhile I see an ignition switch over heat while in the on position. 15 Minutes is pretty quick to to heat soak the starter but it could be it.You really want to be sure its not ignition switch, I have never seen it but I have heard they can catch fire if they build up enough resistance. If you getting power to the little wire while you try to crank it, its your starter overheating.

 

ok heres my two cents the most likely culprits as i see it are starter, solenoid, wires and connections. you are gonna need to do a few voltge checks including voltage drops under certain conditions to verify how far voltage is getting into the circuit.


camaro 69 ive seen and heard the remote relay in action and as a fix but i fail to see that it does anything for the circuit other than add a second relay and make the last foot or two of the starter wire cold instead of hot (voltage wise). the relay on the starter still has to act in the exact same manner as without this fix. good parts in good repair and proper connections have worked for GM for a long time now and dont see a need to change that. modified engines certainly require modified systems to handle the changed specs and heat shields should certainly be used when required but its usually a violation of ohms law that causes most electrical and especially high amp load problems kurt

 

I'm no mechanic or expert on engines but I had more or less that same problem. I have headers on my 69 and if the starter gets too hot after driving for a while (it doesn't have the heat shield yet), when I turn the car off, afterwards it won't start.

It's like the car is dead.

When this happens I have to create some kind of short circuit on the starter by touching 2 screws on the side of it with the metal tip of a long screwdriver, when I do this I get a spark and then the starter is ready to function again. It seems like with the heat, something "stucks" and the short circuit will "unstuck" that.

I'm pretty sure that if you can get the starter away from the heat or, like I have to do, install the heat shield your problem will be solved. I also know that the way I'm fixing my problem ain't the best but when you are in the middle of somewhere it's very handy to know how to start the car.

Do it on your own risk because what I'm saying is what works for me and like I said, I'm no mechanic or expert.