Starter motor issues

[mrlex]

Anyone have any issues with there car not starting when hot?

Recently had this problem driving up to Melbourne for SEDF.
Never driven the Mk1 that far for that amount of time. Drove great apart from having to let it cool every time I stopped. Being an auto, couldn't be bump started either.


I spoke to Matt at Camden Gti, he said that it's because it's a quote.."bloody auto."
They sit behind the box, get hot and the solder melts. WTF VW?

Was thinking about wrapping it in heat shield or running an air flow pipe to it...
Anyone had this issue or recommend something to fix it?
Apart from...needs a manual box. I know!

[mrlex]

Just to add..

If anyone has a manual gearbox, pedal box, steering rack etc...PM me

[GRN_VAGN]

PM'd, have everything besides a gearlink and the lever in enginebay

[mikinoz]

He's right, there should be a heat shield that most of the time gets removed that leads to the solder overheating. You finding it starts ok when cold then?

[mrlex]

It's starts ok when cold. Has always started first time, it's the first time this has happened. Never been driven that much at one time.
I was driving 200k's then stopping to top up fuel etc..then wouldn't start again till it cooled.
On the way back I drove a constant 300k's till I stopped for fuel, that's when it wouldn't start for a while and I started thinking about tow truck costs...luckily I gave it a bang with a pole and it started. It started fine this morning too.

[Jarred]

yea sounds like the little solenoid. Hitting with a hammer, or letting it cool with get it to work. You can pull them out, and fix them up (there was a thread on that already) or maybe reco the starter.

Or just hurry up and do a manual conversion, and dont worry about it again! lols

[mrlex]

Lol, manual conversion will be done soon Jarred. Trying to source parts and monies.
Will try and shield the one on there for now, I have a spare auto starter motor in the shed if it dies.

[GRN_VAGN]

Lol, manual conversion will be done soon Jarred. Trying to source parts and monies.
Will try and shield the one on there for now, I have a spare auto starter motor in the shed if it dies.

Money is always a killer... just go for a heatshield for now.

I know my old gemini used to do it all the time, nothing worse then being in middle of city smashing a starter with a plank of wood while trying to crank it over