Hard To start Hot Engine

[Richard Bain]

I am having some difficult starting the engine when hot. I still hold the glow plug in for 30-40 seconds....
I am thinking it may be wiring or the solonoid? I always get it going...sometimes on the second or third attempt. When I push in the starter, it just changes the sound of the "key on" alert to a higher, fainter sound.

Any thoughts would be helpful! Thanks!
Richie

[Ted Pounds]

Most likely a bad connection in the wiring between battery and starter.  Check out a couple of other threads on the same subject.

[Ted Pounds]

Here's a link:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=3039.0

[joe]

i posted the same problem a few weeks ago. i titled it "engine start". i rewired between the batteries and the charger and solved the problem. the replies to my post might help you. joe

[Ron Hill]

Richard : We've beat that topic to death. 
Please look at Joe's "engine start" question & answers.
BTW, you don't need to use the glow plugs if the engine temp is above 100 degrees!!  A Thought   

[Jeff_McKinney]

An observation along the line of Ron's:

I've experienced an easy "no-glow plug" start during the summer even when the engine has been off for several hours. If the ambient temp is >75 you can get away without it in most cases. If she won't fire up then, a 10-15 second pre-heat should be enough in those conditions. 

[Ken Juul]

With the engine hot, the compression is going to be higher.  This makes the starter work harder.  Any degredation in the starter wiring is going to cause less current available and a slower start, make sure all the connections are clean and tight.  It has been discussed in other threads, I'll repeat it here as a reminder.  It is not necessary to hold the key in the "heat" postion when starting.  Once the engine is hot, or the glow plugs are hot, put the key in the "on" position and hit the starter.  This give the starter all the amps available to spin the engine.

[Ron Hill]

Jeff : Be careful, as the temperature that counts in engine starting is the ENGINE temperature. 
When in doubt use the glow plugs -- as glow plugs are cheap and starters are expensive.  Make sure that your starter has the LEAST amount of turn over time!
A thought.   

[Jeff_McKinney]

Ron,

Good point to remember. Even if it's really hot I do give the plugs a 15-20 second heat cycle before the first startup of the day. She always fires up in less that 3 seconds.