Starting problem...

[dnb]

I have an odd starting problem on my TVR.

From cold it starts first time, every time, even after sitting idle over the winter layup. If I forget it's not an automatic and stall it, then it restarts without incident.

However, if I use the car on the school run or for some other relatively short journey it will not restart after sitting for 10 minutes or so. It cranks very slowly - well below what is needed to start the car. If I attempt to jump start it from a well charged battery, it does the same. If I use a running vehicle, it will restart, but it nearly sets fire to the jump leads.

I am a little confused by this behaviour - I have replaced all the electrical components, so am beginning to conclude there's an expansion problem somewhere in the engine - do piston rings seize up when the car isn't running?? (It's done 150k miles, so is allowed to be a bit ill)

All suggestions appreciated. (Specially if you can make the man-maths add up to building a silly spec engine with my overtime pay )

[teamidris]

I'll risk all and chuck into the thread.

Not a flippin' clue

I'll take a stab at the battery, which hasn't had time to re-charge on a short journey? But that seems a hell of a leap. Melting jump leads is just bad unless they are really cheap.

I can't see it being 'engine' related though. More likely ancillary stuff. It never hurts to make sure the big earths and starter wires have low voltage drop when cranking.

Good Luck

[classicalgreen]

if cables and connections are all good .. battery being jumped not having any effect then possibility of starter motor itself being at fault.
rare but it does happen when we have a lazy starter. cranks slowly at random and worse when hot. since it is temperature related we need to check no voltage drops along cranking /starting circuit as a first course of action.

[JSF55]

check the connections on the solenoid ....all of them, not just the battery one