67 mustang 289 starting problems

[john2189]

When cold turns over and starts right up
After driving it,shut it off sometimes it starts right up, and sometimes it barely turns over. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, it’ll start right up like normal

Auto zone checked battery it’s good and that time it started right up for the starter test.

Is the starter dragging?

[Don McCombs]

Does it have an ignition coil?

[john2189]

Does it have an ignition coil?

Yes coil and points. Would a bad coil stop the starter from turning over?

[ricky racer]

Sounds like it's either got to be the battery (which tested good, assuming with a load test) cables or starter. The starter is grounded through it's mount to the engine block. That is something you can improve by removing the starter, and make sure the interface between the starter and block is clean. Possibly sand the face of the starter and block to assure a good ground between the starter and block.
If that doesn't fix it, it has to be either the cables or starter...

[john2189]

Well im going to remove the starter and check all cable connections. If the starter is dragging, wouldn’t it smell burnt?

[Gary Dotson]

If you have another battery, try that to rule out the battery, for sure. I’ve had batteries do this exact same thing. Have you had any issues, like this, previously? If yes, you may have a hot soak issue. A home brewed heat shield between the starter and exhaust pipe may help. How long has it been since the starter has had any attention? It couldn’t hurt to go though it. The cables and grounds have been mentioned, be sure your cables are of good quality, there are plenty low quality cables out there. One issue that we ran into a lot on Fords, of that era, was a bad cable connection at the post on the starter itself. We always added a star washer there to improve connection. Would it smell burned? Probably not.

[john2189]

It’s the neighbors, her dad died and shes had it two years and she said it’s done this since she’s had it. We have no history on it, so it could be original starter. The battery was new two years ago and checks good. I know before he died he had dual exhaust put on it. Don’t know if it did this for him.

[john2189]

Would a dragging starter drag when cold?

[Don McCombs]

Does it have an ignition coil?

Would a bad coil stop the starter from turning over?

No. I misread your symptoms. Ricky and Gary have you on the right track.

[Gary Dotson]

Yes, it probably would drag some but would be much worse when hot.

[tst]

like it was mentioned, bad ground or a bad starter, if that has the factory ground it 1st went from the battery to the body then from the body to the block

[john2189]

like it was mentioned, bad ground or a bad starter, if that has the factory ground it 1st went from the battery to the body then from the body to the block

The ground is from battery to the block. I took the starter off. It is very hard to turn by hand at the bendix gear. I took it to Oreillys , they put it on the tester it passed but the bushings were very hot. And still hard to turn by hand. I ordered a new one.

[Jim Becker]

I think all the starter related comments are on the right track. My first thought was a dragging starter. A lot of times, a starter will work fine cold. But when hot everything expands and parts that had clearance start to rub each other. Often it is the armature dragging on the pole shoes. New bushings can be the fix as they get the armature back in the middle of the available space.

[indy61]

I had a 67 Chevy 2 that did that. My dad taught me to tap the starter with a hammer, it worked sometimes. Took it to a local gas station that had a 2 bay garage and they had the starter rebuilt and installed same day. The good ole days!

[john2189]

I have a new starter ordered

The old one passed on the tester, but it doesn’t test it under load. (At least I don’t think it does. )