i am having an intermittent starting problem. Happens mostly when hot. When I push the start button I hear what I think is the fuel pump run but starter does not spin. After cooling down a while it will start.
Anyone have any similar issues?

Any messages on the screen?

Sometimes it says "push clutch in to start". But.... clutch is in and little yellow light on the start button is on. It comes on when clutch is in so car seems to know that clutch is in.

No issues with mine. Have you checked the cables to make sure they are tight?

There is a clutch sensor that activates when the clutch is fully engaged. I have had similar issues and had to fiddle with the sensor. Might be worth a try.

It almost sounds like the car isn't seeing the key fob. You could try taking out the batteries and putting them back in. Also check the connection for the secret key receptacle in the console. If that is not connected or is loose, the car won't start.

Thanks. I THINK the clutch sensor is OK since the little light on the start button comes when the clutch is fully depressed.
I will fiddle with the key receptacle and the sensor, too just in case.
.....just tried to start with no key fob and got a "no key decked" error message, so I think the fob is ok.

It could be something old fashioned like the starter brushes hanging up.

In that case, smack the starter with a large hammer while somebody hits the starter button.

A little easier to do on an 80's 3/4 ton Suburban than a GT350, I know... but...

Check voltage at the starter relay. I had a similar issue on my Boss. Turned out to be a bad solder joint on the starter solenoid. It's close to the headers and would create an air gap when hot. Closed as it cooled. Took forever to diagnose

Thanks. Will try all the above. Black Boss your symptoms sound almost exactly like mine. Where do I find the starter relay? Is it on the starter?

Starter relay is I'm the under hood fuse box. Check the manual exact position. I had zero volts hot, then as the gap closed in the joint the voltage steadily climbed over 30 minutes or so.

The other dirty check is to lean down and wiggle the harness on the back of the starter, when the engine is hot, while having someone try to start the car -- watch your hand and the heat from the manifold

Found the starter relay. Will try to post picture here. Pulled the relay out and measured pin 3 to ground. Had voltage. Replaced relay and engine started. Afterward there were no problems for several days -- until a track day. Since the track day there are intermittent problems when both hot and cold. It seems like fiddling with the relay (remove and replace, etc) helps, but not always.
Car is at dealer now for thermostat problem (second time). Hopefully it will fail to start while there and they can diagnose.

Car did fail there. They replaced the starter. No starting problems since. Thermostat did fail again! Will continue in different thread.

Sorry to bubble this one back up fellas.

2017 R. Done about 10 track days this season so far. I'm having the exact issue as the OP. Thought it was the battery (after a hot session, the car would never start without a Jump.) Dealer replaced battery... same issue yesterday at the track. The damn thing wont start without a jump.

I did some experimenting... If (after I come out of the hot pits) I go on a "cruise" out of the raceway down the road for a mile or two, let the oil temps cool down, then drive it back and park... the car starts just fine. What the heck is going on with this! Its like I cant park it when its hot...

Starter is heat soaked

Tonymustang302 said:

Starter is heat soaked

Click to expand...

Back in the day, this was always the problem. Big Block chevys were the worst.

Today, there are several components that could be heat soaked, see above. The unfortunate reality of heat soak and intermittent issues is the short window you have to troubleshoot.

I would start ticking off the cheaper fixes listed above IF you cant find the "Smoking Gun" , the relays are not that expensive.

Just dealt with something similar for the first time this past Friday racing at Sebring. Happened 3 times. After my 30 min session I brought the car to the fuel station to get filled up. I shut the car down. And when I tried to fire it up it wouldn’t turn over. I would get dash lights with auxiliary power but no turning over with the starter.

this only happened at this last track event, and it happened to be the hottest temp outside I’ve run far and the longest lap sessions I’ve run so far.

I have a feeling it’s because the car was so hot. Once the car sat for 3-4 minutes I could get it to fire back up. And it sounded weak when it fired up.

once the car was fully cooled it operated normally without a hint of issues.

Anyone tried wrapping the starter in thermal fabric? I had thought about it many years ago with my S197, but never had a problem like what is being described.

RodS197 said:

Anyone tried wrapping the starter in thermal fabric? I had thought about it many years ago with my S197, but never had a problem like what is being described.

Click to expand...

After I melted a capacitor, I wrapped mine and haven't had an issue since.

honeybadger said:

After I melted a capacitor, I wrapped mine and haven't had an issue since.

Click to expand...

my car has been having the same issue now one I run a hard session.

15 min sessions with cool down is fine. But when I run 20-28 minutes my car won’t fire up for a few minutes after I shut it down.

what did you wrap it with?