Clawhammer Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 My 1800 k series super light has recently become a problem to start when hot. It is not the K click, the starter engages but only just manages to turn the engine over. I have replaced the battery, this has not made any difference. I have cleaned the earth straps from the battery to the engine and from the chassis to the engine. The car starts fine when cold. Could the starter be the problem? Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonpa Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 This used to be quite common and (I think) was due to the starter getting too hot due to the exhaust. Have you got some heat wrap on the starter to protect it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Yeah - that would be my guess from experience too. A high-resistance connection that gets worse with temp. Wrapping the starter might not help if the problem is already there - and the wrap can also keep heat in, so may exacerbate the issue. Can you borrow someone else's starter for a while? It's not a big job to swap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 23, 2014 Member Share Posted June 23, 2014 1 As above 2 Measure battery voltages at rest, cranking and idle both cold and hot. 3 Disconnect, inspect, clean and reconnect all the feeds as well the earths. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 As I've had this problem myself, a couple of times, this is how I cured it (assuming all wiring connections are in good condition): NEW STARTER............ Starters do deteriorate over time & have a hard life in a Caterham. Usually the internal resistance increases &/or mechanical internals deteriorate & the battery has a hard time (even when in good condition) turning the engine. For me a starter lasts about 6 or 7 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan7 Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Agree with Mick. Started OK cold but gradually got worse & worse trying to start when hot. Took the starter round to the local auto electrical guru who found the internals fried. Can't complain as the starter was date stamped 1998 New starter + feeds = problem solved Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clawhammer Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 Cheers guys. Thought this might be the case, Will take the starter off tonight and have a look. Fed up with having to be pushed out of garages when filling up with petrol. Robin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keybaud Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 My Vx fails to start when hot and I've changed almost everything, including removing the starter motor and replacing the bushes. On the bench it works fine, as it does when cold! It looks like replacing the whole starter is the only option left; however, I was going to see if it was the 12v feed affecting it when hot or just a knackered starter motor. I was going to jury rig a second feed from the 12v terminal via a switch to the solenoid and use this if it didn't turn over properly with the ignition key when hot. If it did turn over with the second feed, when it wouldn't with the first, it would imply there is an issue with the 12v feed and not with the starter motor. Edited by - keybaud on 23 Jun 2014 16:48:51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjnewman Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I found replacing the 12 volt cable to the starter solenoid did the trick. I also found it had already been replaced once. Solved all my hot starting issues for about 3 years. Wired in an extra cable from The battery to under the steering wheel and another to the solenoid, when the car was hot and wouldn't start I just touched the two cables and off I went. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Did you carefully scrape between each strip on the commutator to remove any carbon from the brushes ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 24, 2014 Member Share Posted June 24, 2014 Quoting rjnewman: I found replacing the 12 volt cable to the starter solenoid did the trick. I also found it had already been replaced once. Solved all my hot starting issues for about 3 years.Was that the high current lead from the battery or the low current from the switch? There have been several reports where replacing either of these has fixed the problem. I haven't yet heard of anyone dissecting one to see what has happened inside. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjnewman Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Jonathan The low ampage cable was the one that did the trick for me Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 24, 2014 Member Share Posted June 24, 2014 Thanks Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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