Starter Heat Soak-What Is it and How To Cure?

[Subzero]

I just got my truck back from the shop after about 5 months of working on it to rebuild the engine and paint the truck cab-forward under the hood. I installed Hedman Headers and a H-Pipe exhaust system with cherry bomb glasspacks. I have noticed very quickly the truck has a heater soak issue with the starter like others have had. The truck sounds like the battery is weak when starting with a hot engine. It has a original type starter. How can I fix this so it doesn't have the heat soak issues? Will this also cause the truck to not start at all in extreme cases? Thanks for any info you can provide

[red_67f100]

i had that same issue...my battery was 3 months old so i thought that couldnt be it. but it turned my battery didnt have the correct amps, so i went to autozone and they gave me the correct battery, and it turns over just fine now.

[Calfdemon]

I have wrecked several starters due to heat from headers. I went through a few on my Firebird when I had it, and went through one on my Fairlane after I got it. I now religiously use thermal wrap on all of my starters where there are headers nearby and I have yet to fry a starter since I started using it... Here is what I bought. Fairly inexpensive and super easy to put on.

http://www.amazon.com/Thermo-Tec-14150- ... B00029KCWK

[Subzero]

Battery is about 8 months old. It's way over rated for the engine as I got the highest I could for that size, maybe 825 cca and it always worked great before and now when the engine is cold. Is that thermal wrap the correct size for my starter and will I have to remove anything to put it on?

[cep62]

Get the biggest battery cables you can find. 0ga , 00ga ?
electricty is lke water a bigger hose will flow more water.

[Calfdemon]

The thermal wrap that I linked is just one size fits all. There is plenty there for just about any starter. The smaller starters it just wraps around about 1 1/2 times. The larger starters, it should wrap all the way around. If for some reason it doesnt quite make it, just make sure the gap is facing away from the headers. The easiest way to wrap it is to take the starter off and then put the wrap on it and secure it with the 2 metal zip ties. Then reinstall. But it is possible to put the wrap on from under the car and secure it without taking the starter out. I have done it, but it was a major pain in the butt. Took less time actually taking the starter out and then reinstalling it.

[Subzero]

In order to take the starter off, I have to remove the header on that side. I'd rather not do that and risk messing up something else. I'm going to get the wrap and try to put it on from under the truck. Thanks for the help

[Mancar1]

I used to have the starter heat soak problem. Since I installed a gear reduction high torque mini starter the problem has gone away. Pricy compaired to a stock starter, but IMO worth every $$$
Also I can remove it if need b with the headers in place.