[sr71bb]

Well to those that know me, I pretty much tax the limits of most things car related and apparently I am COOKING the starter on my Car at the track .

I was ECR this SATURDAY and after the FIRST SCCA TT track session at a pretty fast pace (2.02 see YOUTUBE link in my signature below), I pulled into my pit spot and after parking the car, I was never able to restart the car again from that time forward. Whenever you pressed the starter button the car would not even ATTEMPT to start. NADA.

Now this car has 2 inch KOOKS headers, runs Zl1 upgraded brake package with DTC70 pads and MICHELIN Slicks on all four corners 30 65 18. I NO DOUBT get hotter than 95% of the people that are tracking their cars so hopefully YOU wont have this issue.

This is the SECOND starter I have cooked so THIS time we are putting some additional heat shielding around it or rather AMP is. This should solve the issue.

[SSDan]

Just a thought - add an engine to body ground cable. I too have dealt with a heat-soaked starter. Adding the ground cable has significantly helped my slow cranks (and one no crank). IMO - worth a shot for $20.00 bucks and ten minutes of time. Here are the details if interested: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=586153

[sr71bb]

Originally Posted by SSDan

Just a thought - add an engine to body ground cable. I too have dealt with a heat-soaked starter. Adding the ground cable has significantly helped my slow cranks (and one no crank). IMO - worth a shot for $20.00 bucks and ten minutes of time. Here are the details if interested: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=586153

Great TIP. THANKS!!!

[Baddawg53]

My car always cranks slow when I just get off track. I replaced the starter before it failed the last time since I already was doing something that required the header to be off.

I tried adding the ground cable and it did not help my situation at all. There are plenty of positive reviews on adding the ground but it just didn't help me.

I plan on changing the starter anytime I need to take the header off, there's just too much heat in there for it to have any longevity, in my opinion of course ...

[SSDan]

My take is that aftermarket headers make the heat soaked starter issues even worse. With stock exhaust manifolds and the meager factory heat shielding- it takes a strong battery and the lowest circuit resistance possible (the extra ground cable gives that) to overcome the starter heat soak. The added heat that the header tubes throw into the starter is just too much to overcome especially once the starter windings start to deteriorate from repeated heat soaked start cycles over time.

My suggestions would be a to take multiple steps. Start with a fresh starter and good battery. Keep the battery fully charged at all time (keep it on a charger whenever possible). Add the ground cable. And get as much heat shielding as possible between the headers and the starter.

Good luck guys. This is a frustrating problem.

[sr71bb]

Originally Posted by SSDan

My take is that aftermarket headers make the heat soaked starter issues even worse. With stock exhaust manifolds and the meager factory heat shielding- it takes a strong battery and the lowest circuit resistance possible (the extra ground cable gives that) to overcome the starter heat soak. The added heat that the header tubes throw into the starter is just too much to overcome especially once the starter windings start to deteriorate from repeated heat soaked start cycles over time.

My suggestions would be a to take multiple steps. Start with a fresh starter and good battery. Keep the battery fully charged at all time (keep it on a charger whenever possible). Add the ground cable. And get as much heat shielding as possible between the headers and the starter.

Good luck guys. This is a frustrating problem.

YEAH, those are all great points. It makes me want to carry a spare starter with me as they only cost roughly 150 dollars and it cost me 300 dollars to tow my damn car back home to the shop on saturday (LOL).

[Joshinator99]

I didn’t see it mentioned…are the headers coated? I suspect that would help a good amount.

[yiweno]

Cermaic coat headers or heat wrap? Add louvers to the hood to help heat extraction as well as downforce.

[sr71bb]

Originally Posted by Joshinator99

I didn’t see it mentioned…are the headers coated? I suspect that would help a good amount.

While ceramic coating on the OUTSIDE of the header WOULD result in lower surface temperature, there is the theory that the coating also would keep some of that heat inside the header tubes as well which WOULD NOT be desirable as you would want to extract that heat as quickly as possible AWAY from the engine..

[carguy55]

I've never had an issue in 5 years of tracking mine, but I don't have headers or 600+hp. Besides the other ideas, maybe install Race Louvers to get the heat out and also open the hood after coming off track.

https://racelouvers.com/chevy/chevy-...-gen-6/?page=2

[sr71bb]

Originally Posted by carguy55

I've never had an issue in 5 years of tracking mine, but I don't have headers or 600+hp. Besides the other ideas, maybe install Race Louvers to get the heat out and also open the hood after coming off track.

https://racelouvers.com/chevy/chevy-...-gen-6/?page=2

Yeah, I might have to consider those although I dont particularly like the look. When you have a dual purpose car, SOMETIMES you have to choose functionality over aesthetics. A VENTED Carbon Fiber hood COULD help as well. I guess I could slow the *uck down but THATS NOT an option.

[6spdhyperblue]

Originally Posted by sr71bb

While ceramic coating on the OUTSIDE of the header WOULD result in lower surface temperature, there is the theory that the coating also would keep some of that heat inside the header tubes as well which WOULD NOT be desirable as you would want to extract that heat as quickly as possible AWAY from the engine..

Keeping it in the pipe increases velocity. Wouldn’t that mean it would be moving the heat down stream at a faster rate? That would be moving heat down the pipe rather than through the pipe medium into the engine bay. Down the pipe at a greater rate would still improve keeping the exhaust valve temp down, no? Then improving scavenging as well which would improve clearing the cylinder of hot gasses. As a layman I would think there’s a chance keeping it in the pipe would be an improvement

[sr71bb]

Originally Posted by 6spdhyperblue

Keeping it in the pipe increases velocity. Wouldn’t that mean it would be moving the heat down stream at a faster rate? That would be moving heat down the pipe rather than through the pipe medium into the engine bay. Down the pipe at a greater rate would still improve keeping the exhaust valve temp down, no? Then improving scavenging as well which would improve clearing the cylinder of hot gasses. As a layman I would think there’s a chance keeping it in the pipe would be an improvement

Well quite frankly I am not sure LOL.

[cdrptrks]

If it is a manual you could try getting a person or two to push the car with the clutch pedal pressed down in 1st gear and pop the clutch at around 10mph. It was able to bump start a lighter manual transmission car after the started failed by pushing it myself with the drivers door open and hopping in but that wasn't the safest thing to do and idk if it would work in the Camaro.