Topic: hot start issues on a 1978 trans am

[pontiac 400 TRANSAM]

Hello everyone

Can anyone please tell me what to check with hot start issues on a 1978 trans am just in point form.Like 1 2 3 4 etc

I know this has been covered a  million times just looking for the most common fix  and repair that has worked for fellow Pontiac enthusiasts .


Engine pontiac 400 ,350 trans .

Thank you

AL

[Maxthe222]

Hey mate, what's hot start mean? Like your starter motor is overheating?

[pontiac 400 TRANSAM]

No after the car runs  for a while and i stop the engine while the engine is hot, it has trouble restarting and wont start.


Once it cools engine stats like its new!

[Stringer]

Will it start after it sits for a while and cools down? If it does, you are experiencing vapor lock. If it is something else, you need to describe the symptoms better, because it could be a rage of things.

[Wallington]

Do you have headers? Original steel line of rubber fuel hose to carb? What carb? What intake, any insulator plate or rubber hose sleeve? Timing is ok?

[pontiac 400 TRANSAM]

Hi yes i have headers and the metal fuel line stops at the altinator and changers to a rubber fuel line to the carby.

regards
Al

[pontiac 400 TRANSAM]

Could it be the Neutral Safety Switch as i have seen that this may cause non start issues im going to replace this and see but im open to suggestions of what else to look including vapour lock.

regards
Al

[Wallington]

Is it LHD ir RHD? It's not related to a hot start issue but will be different for each. Do you know the age of the fuel pump? Also, check you have correct vented fuel cap. While separate issues they can make the heatsoak worse if fuel supply is already strained.

[b_hill_86]

You could try a soft starter heat wrap but don’t wrap it around the starter as intended. Wrap it around the header near the starter to block the heat from the header but that’ll allow cooler air to get to the starter and see if that changes anything.

I had issues with my header cooking my starter too and it would almost never restart immediately after driving. I haven’t made a more permanent heat shield but ever since wrapping my header it starts reliably every time. Been like that for several years now.

Might not be your only issue but if so hope it helps.

[pontiac 400 TRANSAM]

Thanks Brian and to everyone you has given me start points to eliminate the problem. This is fantastic.

I will heat wrap the headers (starter heat  sheilding ) and fuel line (vapour lock)and see what happens .
I will also replace the neutral safety switch.
I should have this done in the next week and I will let you know what happens with the hot start issue.And were i  go if not fixed
I really appreciate the help so far.

Regards
Al

[tz6p06]

I had the same issue and replaced the original style starter with a mini starter and the problem is gone.

[kentuckyyeti]

I had the same issue and replaced the original style starter with a mini starter and the problem is gone.

Exact same issue with every one of our Firebirds with headers.  Same as tz;   installed a hi -torque mini starter and that’s been the end of issue every time.

[JAL71TA]

If you have to replace the starter look or a "brown capped solenoid.

Jim