Battery problem when engine is hot

[Dumb Bo]

I have a 1991 Daihatsu Cuore.

The car starts without any problem whenever the engine is still cold. However, if I turn off the engine and try to restart it after about 15 minutes, it won't start unless I simultaneously press the accelerator all the way. Failing to press the accelerator will result in the battery being drained flat after just 3 attempts.

Any ideas what may be wrong?

 

[breezer]

i doubt its the battery

 

[Belle427]

when you say it wont start is the engine just turning over and not firing?

 

[Dumb Bo]

yes, engine turns over and does not fire up. if i don't help it with the accelerator, after 3 - 4 attempts all i hear is a clicking sound when i turn the ignition... the sound of a flat battery

 

[breezer]

a flat battery is not the cause, it the result of you draining it trying to start

 

[techwondo]

If your car has an ECU, replace the ECU coolant temperature sensor.

If its on an automatic choke, its probably the auto choke thats died.

 

[doyle]

come on lads that a basic fault

starter motor is making the clicking noise, by the sounds of it its strugglin to turn the engine then worsens to not turning the engine and just clicks away lick tick tick tick tick noise.


im 100% certain its the starter motor shame on the rest of you spanners for not recognising it.
does it phrromp phroomp phroomp noise on starting but starts ok with clutch down.........starters fecked clutch down takes strain of engine making it easier to turn over...

clutch up phroomp phroomp phrromp tick tick tick tick tick

 

[Dumb Bo]

Thanks all for the help and interest

breezer, personally i'm convinced it's not the battery (the problem also happened with a new battery in place)

techwondo, no ECU, and manual choke

doyle, i'll try it out as soon as i've recovered sufficiently from a badly twisted ankle. It never crossed my mind to try and start the engine with the clutch down.

 

[joe-90]

Doesn't sound like starter motor to me otherwise it wouldn't start on cold either.

I had similar problem once and found it to be the ignition module that fired a very weak spark when hot. When it was cold there was no problem.

Pull one of your spark leads off and see if you get a strong spark when held near engine block when cold. Then try it when hot.

 

[breezer]

but do hold the lead wearing gloves, or you may speak some foreign words

 

[techwondo]

come on lads that a basic fault

starter motor is making the clicking noise, by the sounds of it its strugglin to turn the engine then worsens to not turning the engine and just clicks away lick tick tick tick tick noise.


im 100% certain its the starter motor shame on the rest of you spanners for not recognising it.
does it phrromp phroomp phroomp noise on starting but starts ok with clutch down.........starters fecked clutch down takes strain of engine making it easier to turn over...

clutch up phroomp phroomp phrromp tick tick tick tick tick

Because of off roading qute a lot, i have killed quite a few starter motors, and ive never had one fail like that.

 

[stuartinlancashire]

This sounds very similar to a problem I experienced with an A reg Ford Escort with a 1.6 CVH engine many years ago. It would start up fine when cold but I just got a clunk from the starter when the engine was hot. I replaced the started and the problem continued, then the engine seized.

Turned out it was likely to be a blocked oil pressure relief valve that caused the seizure and poor starting when hot was apparantly one of the symptoms.

 

[Ron Gamma]

other than a knackered SM, slow starting caused either by newly rebuilt engine being tight or old engine being worn and all oil draining out of big ends. rebuilt engine will be really tight when cold. worn engine will be acccompanied by death rattle as ignition takes over from starter until oil builds up again.

you say the problem is the same with new or old battery. (assume fully charged?)

no problem when accelerator pumped to start car. (low starter revs not pulling enough airflow to suck fuel in or more likely all electricity being diverted to starter and depriving spark plugs?)

if it's a pre-engaged starter motor then change it or overhaul the solenoid as it sounds like it is breaking down under electrical current (why d'ya fink it has a big cable...)

if it's an older style seperate starter solenoid change that instead - you can prove this unit by bypassing it once it appears to have flattened the battery. linking the starter direct to the battery should turn it over.

 

[doyle]

come on lads that a basic fault

starter motor is making the clicking noise, by the sounds of it its strugglin to turn the engine then worsens to not turning the engine and just clicks away lick tick tick tick tick noise.


im 100% certain its the starter motor shame on the rest of you spanners for not recognising it.
does it phrromp phroomp phroomp noise on starting but starts ok with clutch down.........starters fecked clutch down takes strain of engine making it easier to turn over...

clutch up phroomp phroomp phrromp tick tick tick tick tick

Because of off roading qute a lot, i have killed quite a few starter motors, and ive never had one fail like that.

ooopsss your right. to a degree ........its the solenoid on the starter to be more specific about it and atleast ron agrees it could be. but i dont think its death rattle hes trying to describe for us or atleast i hope hes not anyway.
but were getting their for the member suppose all we can do is wait and see whilst he test each diagnosis or supplies further symptoms.

i did actually put the phroomps and ticks to see if the member agrees that type of symptom but obvioisly not other wise he would have said yes thats exactly whats its doing so maybe it is other fault.

 

[TicklyT]

Could it be the engine management system thinks the engine is flooded, and disabling the starter until things have cleared. A wide open throttle may give a weaker mixture at cranking speeds, so less chance of flooding.