Club 80-90 Forums

Hi. We've got a hot start problem on our 1991 2.1i. Starts fine when cold or warm. When it's running, it runs great, although there's a slight hesitation / misfire on deceleration in 3rd gear. However, As soon as it's up to mid way on the temp gauge it won't start. It cranks slowly to nothing. If it cools down, it cranks slowly then there's a click from the solenoid and it starts.

I've cleaned / replaced all the grounds and cleaned replaced all starter connections. This improved the cold start, but didn't prevent the hot start failure. We recently had a new alternator and a new coil / Ht Leads. The battery has been checked by a garage...

When it's hot and I test the volts across the battery whilst trying to start, it drops below 10v, which obviously isn't enough to start? When it's cold and starts it drops to 11.70 minimum - more often 12.

The PO had a reconditioned starter fitted less than a year ago. When we got it the connections on the starter were very poor. Wrong size spade on 50 and loose rusty connections on the main feed to the solenoid, corroded / broken connections to the alternator on the starter end. Looked like a very lazy fitting. This may have cost us our alternator...

Could it be the bush? I don't know if it was refitted on the recon starter. Pulling the starter is a slightly daunting job for me...

Update, starter is quite noisy when it does start - theres definitely a bit of a screech when it does engage.

Hi are you any further forward on this problem as the project that's currently been worked on has similar issues. I am suspecting that the voltage drop is possibly due to poor earths. My first job would be to fit an additional earth to one of the starter motor bolts, if that fails try running a new positive from the battery to the solenoid with some heavy cable to see if it cranks over better when hot. I mean touch it on as a test to rule out the cable from the key switch. Also heard that the ign switch can breakdown and cause similar problems (cheap to replace to rule it out!) Last but no means least the oilite bush.

Anymore idea's most welcome......

thanks Mark.
I've checked the voltage at the starter end of the cable when it's hot and it's good. I thought earth too, and went about cleaning and replacing them all. The earth on the starter itself doesn't look great - its a bit frayed. I'll add another earth to the starter and see if that helps. The ignition looked ok when i took it out, but it wouldn't hurt to change it i guess. i'll let you know