Starter issues?

[Sganderson]

I have an 88 tbi 350 jimmy. Has always started up fine when cold. After it warms up or take it for a drive if I shut it off the starter seems to drag. It will turn very slowly and not fire up. If I wait 10-20 minutes it will crank right up. This is my third starter. The first two was re manufactured dura last. This one is a brand new duralast. I have it wrapped in a heat shield. I don't have headers installed. I'm wondering if I need to opt for a high torque mini or if the current starter needs to be shimmed. There are no grinding noises though. I'm lost on this and it has become a major issue since I use my blazer as a daily driver. I also read that vapor lock could be causing the issue but my guess is solenoid heat soak. Can anyone chime in on this?

 

[bp71k5]

Might have your battery load tested or alternator checked. Slow starting after the third starter kinda points to something else. I have a minivan that did something like that when the battery had a bad cell.

 

[Sganderson]

Had that done already. Brand new battery, biggest I could find actually. Alternator checked out fine. I could get it checked out again I guess. It really doesn't make any sense to me. I have even thought I have a bad ground somewhere. Good cold starts and slow to no hot starts. I've even replaced my fuel relay recently thinking it could be the problem

 

[riflerk20]

Timing maybe ???

 

[diesel4me]

That symptom can be caused by many things...this is often called "heat soak",because after the engine is shut off,it actually gets hotter from the lack of coolant circulation ,for several minutes after shut down--the pistons can actually "drag" on the cylinders from the expansion,and make cranking harder...the starter also loses a lot of its cranking power,the hotter the windings get...usually a heat sheild at least helps,if not cures the problem..

Headers "cook" starters more than stock exhaust manifolds too,and add to the problem..also if the timing is too far advanced (usually only on older non-computerized engines),it might seem to run good and not ping,but it'll show up as hard cranking after it heat soaks..

One possibility is a poor ground,or old internally corroded battery cables..if they look suspect and you decide to replace them,going up to a 2 gauge instead of 4 gauge is a good idea...there should be a ground strap going from the engine block to firewall and another from one of the transmission pan bolts (if its an automatic),as well as the usual battery ground on the engine block..

It might not be a bad idea to check what the actual coolant temparature is ,if its running borderline "hot" to start with,like over 200 degrees,it'll be much more likely to heat soak and not want to crank over fast enough when you go to make a hot re-start...

 

[Sganderson]

Thanks everyone. I will try all suggestions before I put any more money into buying mini starter. Will post again qith results soon

 

[byggyns]

I'd go with the upgrade of the battery cables. If they have been on the vehicle for years, there will be internal wear & breakdown even if there is nothing you can see from the outside. I had a similar issue and replaced the cables with 1 gauge along with adding a fender mounted solenoid & mine cranks over with no issues in any condition: 100* after just being run or at 10* after sitting for a month (though with a carb it has to crank for a while before it wants to fire that cold)

 

[Blue85]

I fought this problem through maybe 4 reman starters. Then I converted to a Ford style starter solenoid and without even replacing the starter it has worked great now for several years. You can find details and diagrams for this mod if you search here.

I ran the factory pink wire to trigger the remote solenoid and the remote solenoid only powers the starter solenoid. The main (built-in) solenoid is still wired directly to the battery. This is a little different (and of course better than the approach most common on CK5).

 

[Sganderson]

Thanks guys for all the replies. I will certainly try many of the suggestions. Ignition module went out this week and I've been working on that. All fixed now. Maybe next week I will get back on the starter. I will update

 

[Sganderson]

Sorry for the late post but it turned out being the battery cable running to the starter.