[Father&Son73T/A]

I have been told that W72's are prone to starters stalling out after driving distances and heating up.
Then you're left to the mallet or watching grass grow..........
I have a relay type product on mine from one of the previous owners so I have not had this problem,however,I want this off the car and wonder is there a way to stop the hot solenoid failure.thicker battery cables?
I dont want to go hi torque I want my car kept stock original

[jonathonar89]

I have a stock style starter on mine. I picked it up at a local Autozone or something. We live in the same area and deal with the same atmospheric temps. Haven't had any issues here...let me know what your results are in the future.

[Father&Son73T/A]

Thanks,mine doesnt have the problem YET,if I remove the solenoid that's inbetween the battery and the original starter I may have the problem,I am getting ready for the POCI NATS and want the car dead on,but was looking to find a remedy without comprimising originality.

[Skip Fix]

I never had the problem on mine but I always kept the factory heat sheild for the solenoid. Even used a stock starter for along time with headers.

And I still use the heat sheild on my mini starter.

[2manyT/A'S]

It's about TIME you addressed that,GOOD BOY!

Just put the STOCK parts back on you you will be FINE!

I had a hot start issue with MY 78 W72 4 speed when it was 3 months old.

The dealer tried 3 times to fix it underwarranty & wasn't able to.

Fixed it myself at the side of the road.

The battery ground strap was just slightly loose on the head bolt stud,that's ALL it was.

Look for a NOS Delco solenoid on Ebay? (there WAS a HD unit available for Ram Air applications)

As Skipfix says,make sure you have the original type heat shield for the solenoid.

Don't SCREW with ANYTHING ELSE!

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

It's about TIME you addressed that,GOOD BOY!

Just put the STOCK parts back on you you will be FINE!

I had a hot start issue with MY 78 W72 4 speed when it was 3 months old.

The dealer tried 3 times to fix it underwarranty & wasn't able to.

Fixed it myself at the side of the road.

The battery ground strap was just slightly loose on the head bolt stud,that's ALL it was.

Look for a NOS Delco solenoid on Ebay? (there WAS a HD unit available for Ram Air applications)

As Skipfix says,make sure you have the original type heat shield for the solenoid.

Don't SCREW with ANYTHING ELSE!

LOL!.............you like the fact I'm dealing witht he solenoid huh?

Original heat shield and ground strap ........

[3tas4me]

Never had an issue with my '79 either. In fact, I have never even heard of this issue!

[SD73]

I had a few '79s. The only fix I ever needed was a bigger battery. It may have been that the battery in there was getting ready to fail, but on both cars I went with larger bat's and the problem went away.

[2manyT/A'S]

The other thing to consider is that these low compression/smog Pontiac V8's will take ALOT of initial timing before detonation occurs.

When initial is set OVER factory specs,HOT hard starting (slow crank) IS an issue.

Put in a NEW Delco solenoid & new HD battery,set initial to factory specs & roadtest/check for hot start problems......

And remember,you've ALWAYS got a clutch pedal.........So if you shut it off on a HILL,you don't NEED a starter anyways!

[rexs73gto]

Hot start problems have been a problem with Pontiac's for aLONG time. My 69 bird was 2 years old and ahd that problem after I started playing with it. The ground strap on the back of the block came off, the one on the right head to the firewall. I started to have hot start problems & when I found it I put it back on & no more hot start . Pontiac has put ground on the engine for just that concern. Make sure the cables are tight & good. They can corroad on the inside of the cable & they will look good but only have little more then half of there use. Cables rot from the inside out not the outside in. Then make sure all the grounds are on the engine (3) & make sure there tight. Also use the starter shield it's there for a reason. Now , & but If your not haveing the hot start now with the relay why do you think your going to have them when you put it back to stock??? Do you feel that unlucky??? Put it back to stock & have some faith that it will be ok. Maybe the other owner did it just because of problems with another car. As I said Pontiacs are known for this problem so maybe he did it as a stop gap. If all the grounds are there , cables are good , battery is good then you'll be ok.

[SD73]

I'll throw this out here too. It's a great thread for learning how to ID the high torque starters.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=691783

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by 3tas4me

Never had an issue with my '79 either. In fact, I have never even heard of this issue!

Is your 79 a W72?,they have the starter problems.

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by rexs73gto

Hot start problems have been a problem with Pontiac's for aLONG time. My 69 bird was 2 years old and ahd that problem after I started playing with it. The ground strap on the back of the block came off, the one on the right head to the firewall. I started to have hot start problems & when I found it I put it back on & no more hot start . Pontiac has put ground on the engine for just that concern. Make sure the cables are tight & good. They can corroad on the inside of the cable & they will look good but only have little more then half of there use. Cables rot from the inside out not the outside in. Then make sure all the grounds are on the engine (3) & make sure there tight. Also use the starter shield it's there for a reason. Now , & but If your not haveing the hot start now with the relay why do you think your going to have them when you put it back to stock??? Do you feel that unlucky??? Put it back to stock & have some faith that it will be ok. Maybe the other owner did it just because of problems with another car. As I said Pontiacs are known for this problem so maybe he did it as a stop gap. If all the grounds are there , cables are good , battery is good then you'll be ok.

Thanks,.good advice.

[3tas4me]

Yes, my '79 is a W-72 4speed car. All original with just about 50k on it. Nothing ever done with the starter since I have had it and nothing before I bought it to my knowledge.

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by 3tas4me

Yes, my '79 is a W-72 4speed car. All original with just about 50k on it. Nothing ever done with the starter since I have had it and nothing before I bought it to my knowledge.

Thats good to know,thanks.........nice engine opt on your TATA

[3tas4me]

It still has the factory exhaust including the converter! I think it is about time for some duals.....

[Philo]

I have a '79 W72 and have not had this problem - I've had it for somewhat over ten years. It cranks for a few seconds after it has been sitting for a while, otherwise, hot or cold, just a half second turn of the key and it is running. When cold, it sputters for a few seconds, but then is fine.

[gtohurstjudge]

I agree that a lot of Pontiac v-8's don't have this problem but some do.
If your Pontiac is one of those with a problem, do the following in this order...
1) Try installing a high powered new battery(850 CCA) and make sure
both ends of both batt cables are clean and tight.
2) Install a new Delco factory type starter with the Ram Air type heat
shield screwed to the side of the solenoid.
3) If after this you still have a problem, go to larger diameter cross section
battery cables like those used on big trucks. I had one customer that fought this
problem on his 70 GTO for twenty years until I put larger diameter battery cables
on the car. It totally fixed it and he thinks I am the guru now.(I got this tip from
the late Pontiac engineer John Sawruk. He told me that Pontiac was aware of the problem but the bean counters wouldn't let the engineers specify the heavier duty
cables because they cost too much!)

[Father&Son73T/A]

Originally Posted by 3tas4me

It still has the factory exhaust including the converter! I think it is about time for some duals.....

Not as long as I own it,it will be a survivor car totally,...........untill I'm 90 and throw headers and true dualls on

[hada76]

adding headers usually causes the problem, ive heard wrapping the headers as well as heat shield helps