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TR6 TR6 Hot Starter Issue

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fwtexasbj8

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My wife's TR6 has started acting up after she has been out driving it a while with multiple starts doing errands. It will start just fine a number of times then all of a sudden, it seems like no power gets to the starter. I can hear the starter relay closing and have verified power to the starter solenoid is being switched through the relay on the white/red wire. Once the car sits for a while and cools, it will usually start again. I can push start it when the starter is dead so I do not think there is any issue beyond the starting system. I have cleaned all the wiring and battery connections looking for a loose conncetion or ground issue but didn't see anything wrong. When it works, everything is normal and she gets an easy start. Then nothing!

Can the starter solenoid have a heat related fault that would cause it to act this way? Any advice is really appreciated as she seems to be embarrassed having to push start it with people watching!
 
Yes, starter solenoids frequently don't work properly when they get hot. I don't know all the reasons why, but there seem to be multiples (including that the winding resistance goes up with heat, meaning the current and hence force goes down).

A new starter & solenoid may or may not solve the problem. I'd try adding a heat shield to the starter first. Ordinary "roofing tin" will work, if you can find a way to secure it so it doesn't vibrate and break; or you can go with something like this:
51ZvYKoQVyL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Starter-Shield-Reflective-Mylar/dp/B004MHTWWE
 
Doug,
Since you've verified that 12v is going to the starter via the red/white wire, it's probably the starter. I had a similar scenario, and by pushing the clutch a few times, it would start OK...for a while. It soon became randomly intermittent so I pulled it. The bushings and brushes were very worn; I also took the solenoid apart (you have to unsolder wires to remove the back) and the contacts were very pitted. The starter had simply worn out. I rebuilt it just for fun and it has worked great for 6 years. Lots of people fit a modern-type one and they seem to work fine.

The mounting bolts for the starter are hard to get at - have fun!

Jeff

74.5 & 75 TR6
 
Thanks Jeff,
I was admiring the design for maintainability and thinking about opportunity to struggle under the car for a while as I contemplated just pulling it for good measure. I really think that is where the problem is but since I don't have as much TR experience as Healey time, I thought I would ask for advice before attacking it. My wife owes me big time!
 
You could also have a slight issue of the case expansion, whereby when hot, the starter case begins to separate and creates too big a gap in the winding.
 
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