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XC 351 very weak starting when hot 

 

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 Post subject: XC 351 very weak starting when hot
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 1:51 pm 
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Hi

My XC 351 ute, with factory electronic ignition will start first go on the coldest Melbourne mornings. Starter sounds strong and motor cranks freely.

However, once you've driven for 30 minutes or so, when I go to re-start the engine barely cranks, its almost like the battery is flat. The engine will usually fire on about the third weak crank and off we go. But the motor is barely spinning when I try to start so I'm concerned one day it won't start when hot and I'll be stuck somewhere.

Next morning, all is perfect, turn the engine, full crank and no problems starting.

Any suggestions as to what the problem is?

Thanks

Laurence
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 1:53 pm 
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possibly a bad earth connection some where, do a current draw test on ur starter
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 3:07 pm 
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how old are your starter and battery cables?

 

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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:40 pm 
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this ones a interesting subject,, i have the same problem starts first click take her for a run and try and restart her she struggles but eventually makes it.
but let her sit and idle for 30 mins- an hour, restart her and first click she fires straight away.
was thinking something like flywheel/starter motor, starter might be getting hot/ but doesnt explain why it can idle for upto an hour and restart first time.
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 7:59 pm 
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I had this problem on my old xb 351 ages ago fitted a starter relay and all was good, not saying thats what it is but it could be and its a cheap fix.
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:19 pm 
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yeah you sometimes can get a voltage drop to the solenoid terminal at the starter motor.

with my 351 ute, i modified a 6cyl ford starter to suit it.
i also made up some new battery cables, bought a nice new battery, wired a relay for the solenoid and modified my alternator to output 85 amps.
now she cranks hard constantly.

hey laurence, do you have the old clapper starter motor on the xc or is it a normal one?

 

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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:26 pm 
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Thanks everyone

I did the current draw test but the results were a bit inconclusive, however I replaced the earth lead, tightened all electrical connections, sprayed RP7 on all electrical cable ends and so far things have been better when starting hot.

Smoke_rubber - I've got the normal starter motor
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:57 am 
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The older ford (non gear-reduction) starters are well known for this. Solution, as all have said, is to fit a starter relay.

Also : The EB > 6 Cyl starter can be modified to fit, and as it is a gear reduction one spins the engine nicely. I think you can actually get them made for the clevos now.

Nigel
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:46 pm 
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i can make em, i did it with my ute.

 

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Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:35 pm 
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That is a design fault with all V8 clevelands, the 200,250 sixes used to have the problem too. Sometimes larger cables do the trick, get starter checked out, fit relay as above.

cheers
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:18 pm 
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the other problem with this is if you have extractors on the motor or even if the exhuast runs close to the starter motor, the heat from the pipes will have an affect on the starter motor. You can try putting a heat shield between the starter and exhaust.

 

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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:10 pm 
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Gear reduction starters have been around for a while and they work very well, as others have stated heat is a major factor as the starter is very close to the exhaust.

 

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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:53 am 
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old post but sounds strange i had this on my V8 had me buggered cos the battery would start it fine everytime mainly found problem when hot especially when i went to drags day wouldnt start in staging lanes, got a new battery 530cca 75rc i think and never had problem again.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:19 am 
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try knocking the ignition back a few degrees. you might be surprised.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:46 pm 
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As others have hinted, heat soak is the culprit - clevo's , holden v8s and chev small blocks all seem to suffer it to some degree - either gear reduction starter or some form of heat shield will do the trick - Summit catalogues have, from memory, a shield of some sorts - I made one for myself on an xc clevo with extractors - my shield was made from aluminium sheet that I shaped, then pop riveted a second sheet inside it of gasket/asbestos type stuff I had laying around - never had the problem again....maybe thermo wrap on your exhaust/extractors would help too...

 

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