Anyone have an opinion on hot start relays

i have an issue where my bus clicks "sometimes" when i turn the ignition, do i need to fit a hot start relay (is that difficult?) or is there a different issue?

I cleaned all contacts on started and solenoid

 

gearbox earth strap ...

 

They cover up the real issue but may buy you some time.

Clean/check the gearbox earth strap,the cornections on the starter and behind the fuse box and ignition switch. If still not fixed its likey the starter or ignition switch

 

Worth fitting even if you don't have a problem, stops the back EMF from the solenoid eroding the ignition switch contacts.

 

^this. Fit one anyway.

 

What is a hot start relay ????

 

Usain Bolt with a fire cracker up his .......

 

It is actually a volt drop relay, called a hot start relay because it alleviates the problem of the higher resistance of the starter solenoid earthing through the motor brushes when they are hot.

 

Mine's a pain to start if I've called into a service area after a couple of hours run.
I always thought that it was fuel evaporation....am I wrong ?
Standard 2L type 4 engine .

 

If it is turning over and not starting then is fuel evaporation making a rich mixture, made worse by the ethanol fuels.

 

Ah well, there goes the magic cure...
foot to the floor as usual then.

 

Fit one

 

Foot slowly to the floor is the “official” method for carbs on a hot engine Opens the throttle plate(s) fully.

 

Cheers davidoft

now the big question “is it a difficult job?” Can a novice like me do it myself or is it a garage job?

 

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/AC9112917-hard-start-relay-kit-12v.html
Easy fit kit which seemed ok on the reviews
Not a difficult job
Have fun

 

Cheers

 

Calling it a kit is a bit much... it's a 40A relay and 4 connectors... even Halfords would be cheaper. Ask here for wiring instructions

 

I fitted a brand new loom 7 tmyears ago and had 3 starters all ready 50k miles (there not good quality rebuilds) and only when abroad when it was bit hotter on there fuel and hotter did I get the odd issue left it to 20 mins cool down and bingo but not ok when u stall it in Brussels city centre pushes it to side 20 mins fired 1st time all connections re done earths good new gearbox strap left old one on to then went to ebi stopped for a ******* and boom same again !! New ignition switch been fitted in last few years ago but good sealed 40amp boat sealed 4 pin relay are like £20 with 40 amp cable and pack of 4 relays on amazon!! Fitted it onto gearbox cros member and 1st tine I turned it over was shocked so much faster and never been issue since and now when I get to a derry port I know I'll get on


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My bus also sometimes fails to start after a hot run. I always leave the engine on for at least a minute after a run, to let the fan cool it down and that makes a big difference. But for the occasions when the starter just will not turn, I have a wire from the starter to the engine bay that I touch on the battery to start it. Has worked every time for over ten years and takes about 3 minutes to install.
Only problem was when it happened after many months and I forgot about the wire. Had to go back into petrol station and get the girl to come and turn the key while I climbed under the van and whacked the starter with a mallet (which also works a treat but a bit more fiddly, and make sure not in gear!).

 

Its a fix for one of several problems.
There are two switches in the ignition switch that have to be good.
One provides power to the coil and if that fails in the start position it cranks fast but wont fire until you stop cranking and then it may fire for a moment.
The starter contact burns because it is driving the big starter motor solenoid, so that wears out faster as its an inductor. That one leads to nothing, not even a click. Thats the one for a hot start relay.

Then you have bad battery, poor wiring or sticky starters which gives clicks and no cranking, or slow cranking. For these, cleaning and upgrading wiring are needed.

Then if it cranks fast but wont fire when then its often flooding from various worn out and non stock carburettors, or the electric choke coming back on. These are the cases where a long crank with the pedal pressed down slowly works, not repeated stomping.
In some cases it can take a couple of 20 to 30 second cranks to go. For these, the relay is no help.


In 80000 miles I have had one cheap GSF recon starter motor and a new ignition switch, and a battery earth strap. All these were replaced within weeks of each other, a couple of years from buying the bus where the starter was sticky when I bought it but it cleared up ..until it all went bad at once..

Also about 4 different starter batteries, usually discards from a 2 litre Peugeot diesel.
In fact I have had two replacement engines and one starter.


I may bother with a hot start relay, might try a solid state one as then even the relay wont burn its contacts, which is the eventual fate of a normal relay.

You need to carry a spare relay if you have fitted one, it will burn out in the end.