Intermittent Starting

[Jamieo]

My buddy has an 83 Cutlass Supreme that has an issue to where the car won't start after shutting it off. This only happens every couple weeks and starts right up with a jump. Battery has been replaced twice. Can the alternator be an issue or ground? Any input would be appreciated.

 

[MontesbyE]

My buddy has an 83 Cutlass Supreme that has an issue to where the car won't start after shutting it off. This only happens every couple weeks and starts right up with a jump. Battery has been replaced twice. Can the alternator be an issue or ground? Any input would be appreciated.

Could you elaborate a little more on the issue, does it crank and not start? wont crank? etc...

 

[Jamieo]

My apologies. It does not crank, the car has zero response to the key being turned. It acts like there is no power going to it, then it will start 30 minutes or so later.

 

[MontesbyE]

My apologies. It does not crank, the car has zero response to the key being turned. It acts like there is no power going to it, then it will start 30 minutes or so later.

I would look at the starter getting heat soaked.

 

[Jeff Blagden]

is there a heat shield missing from the starter I had a GM back in the day I changed starters but did not put on the heat shield and when I drove it on the highway it would not start for 20 minutes until it cooled down I quickly put back the heat shield not sure if this is the same problem but it would not turn over at all but this was a 1975 firebird with a 350 just trying to help good luck in trying to solve your problem

 

[Max Headroom]

I would look at the starter getting heat soaked.

is there a heat shield missing from the starter I had a GM back in the day I changed starters but did not put on the heat shield and when I drove it on the highway it would not start for 20 minutes until it cooled down I quickly put back the heat shield not sure if this is the same problem but it would not turn over at all but this was a 1975 firebird with a 350 just trying to help good luck in trying to solve your problem

What they said!!

 

[Jamieo]

I'll give it a look tomorrow and post the findings. Thanks for all the inputs.

 

[MrSony]

Heat soak or loose stud on the starter or a loose wire. Seen it a few times.

 

[303'505rollin]

My olds does that too oddly at the weirdest times/places, it's my power cable to battery it wiggles a thread loose and nothing all power is lost I pop the hood twist the rubber on the positive and it clicks and its ready to go. It's done this for years when ever it get jealous I think. I've switched cables new side post studs put in gold plated ones still does it.

 

[Jamieo]

UPDATE----
So we never got around to looking at the starter because the car cutoff on him while he was driving down the highway. When I went to pick him up the car wouldn't even try to turn over again. We swapped the fuel pump and alternator yesterday and it tries to crank now but won't fire up. I put some carb cleaner in the carb and nothing changed. I pulled off the pump to carb line and fuel was coming out when he turned the ignition. The plugs, wires, and distributor cap and rotor are all new and ran after changing, just the issue with not starting after being shut off. Can the starter solenoid still be an issue since the motor spins when trying to start, just not firing up? I feel like we may be missing something fairly simple.