[Engine] Cherokee starting issue??

[Chopperhead]

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Ok so my cherokee has a wierd problem. after you drive it for a bit and shut it off it wont start again untill you let it sit for 5-10min. it turns over but very slowly, not fast enough to start the engine. after about 5-10min of sitting it starts up again just fine.

it does it on a fairly consistant basis. according the gauges everything is in normal temp and pressure ranges so i dont really know what the problem is.

oh it's the GM 2.8lt V6 with the 5speed manual.


any thoughts?

[gmc4cw]

how long has it been doing this? have you done any repairs to the vehicle recently? from the little bit that you listed it sounds like a heat issue. is it fuel injected or carbed?

did you notice an recent changes in the vehicle performance? if everything is the same as it has been for the last several years I would start looking at the starter. It may be getting old and the heat is starting to have an effect on it.

[Chopperhead]

Originally Posted by gmc4cw

how long has it been doing this? have you done any repairs to the vehicle recently? from the little bit that you listed it sounds like a heat issue. is it fuel injected or carbed?

did you notice an recent changes in the vehicle performance? if everything is the same as it has been for the last several years I would start looking at the starter. It may be getting old and the heat is starting to have an effect on it.

havent done anything to it recently and it's been doing it for awile now. when it first started happening it was just sporatically and didnt happen much but now it happens on a consistant predictable basis. It's a carbed 2.8lt V6 1985 vintage.

altough if you hook up booster cables to it, it will start up again without having to wait. I dont think it's a battery problem though cause it would'nt just magicaly charge it stelf up again after 10min.

[gmc4cw]

I would have the battery tested. heat has an effect on them too. if the battery was 100% then hooking boosters to it shouldn't have a dramatic effect to the cranking ability.

most likely the battery isn't the greatest and the starter is getting old.

I would do it in this order, have the battery tested, if its not 100% replace it. If you buy a new battery make sure the one you are getting is good. make sure it charged before you leave the store with it. nothing is more frustrating then buying a new dead battery. if the problem does not go away its time to test the starter.

[3 on the tree]

Heat sink. Common on SBC with headers.

Make an insulated cover for the starter and solenoid.

You could always do the Ford solenoid.

Make it do it at home, then hit the starter with a water hose. Bout 2 minutes worth, and I bet it will start.

[darryl]

I would go with what chas says to do. i also expect to hear that you need both a starter and a battery, things just go that way.

[VegasBruce]

I do the Ford solenoid thing on my trucks. It also has the added benefit of not having hot cables running around the headers.

[3 on the tree]

Originally Posted by VegasBruce

I do the Ford solenoid thing on my trucks. It also has the added benefit of not having hot cables running around the headers.

I learned about the solenoid swap while flattracking, 20 years ago. Nothing like haulin butt in a Poncho, and having the starter vibrate loose, shorting out the whole car.

[Badbowty75]

You know I always hear people say that about the SBC, but i have had no less than 10 of them all in different cars/trucks with various different headers and i have never had a problem. I also dont think that is an issue on the 2.8 V6. I have had both an 84 s10 blazer and an 86 s10 truck. I dont think the exhaust manifolds are that close to the starter on this motor. I could be wrong though i never really paid attention to either one.

[3 on the tree]

Originally Posted by Badbowty75

You know I always hear people say that about the SBC, but i have had no less than 10 of them all in different cars/trucks with various different headers and i have never had a problem. I also dont think that is an issue on the 2.8 V6. I have had both an 84 s10 blazer and an 86 s10 truck. I dont think the exhaust manifolds are that close to the starter on this motor. I could be wrong though i never really paid attention to either one.

I had a 2.8 Cherokee, and the stock exhaust was right there. Couldn't get a pencil tween the pipe and the starter. BTW, if you DO have to change the starter, here's the easy way; Jack up on the frame , behind the pass front tire. Leave the front tires on the ground. The starter will slide out, straight forward. Otherwise, you are looking at dropping the exhaust.