Re: [Amc-list] Engine Cranks Slow When Hot

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

This is perfectly normal. There is a phenomena called "heat soak" that occurs when you suddenly stop circulating coolant in a hot engine. The temp climbs rapidly for a few seconds then slowly dissipates. The starter soaks up a lot of that heat, and turns slow because it's so hot. 

There's an easy cure -- don't shut the engine down immediately. Let it idle for 15-20 seconds before you shut the engine off. That usually dissipates enough heat to at least reduce the slow turning to something less scary. I rented a VW Rabbit years ago that did the same thing, and it was new! Right in the owners manual "on hot days let engine idle up to 30 seconds before shutting off or a no start condition may occur" (something like that). I found out the hard way -- shut it off at a gas station and had to wait 30 minutes before the #%#$% thing would start again! Looked through the owners manual while waiting for it to cool off and there it was... 


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Date: Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:12:39 -0500
From: Todd Tomason <jayscore@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

I've noticed something odd with my Spirit.  If the car is thoroughly warmed 
up, and I make a short stop (say 15 minutes), the engine cranks noticeably 
slower when I start it.  As it turns over a few times it speeds up, and it 
starts just fine.  My first thought is some sort of heat issue.  Maybe the 
battery is getting marginal (it's several years old) and the heat is 
affecting it.  Or maybe the heat is affecting the engine itself somehow.  

Any ideas on what to check?

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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