Over Heating Starter, won't start after a commute Options

[yellow914]

Starter is apparently over heating during my commute (which it didn't do for the past year)

(1).What's the cause? (yes I know heat...why I odda (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) )

(2). Is the only cure a new starter?......or...?

(3). I also have an interesting idle also...the "warmer" the car the lower the idle?

Help Por-favor : (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[charliew]

On old chevs you could disassemble the solenoid and turn the copper washer around and turn the contacts around and get more life out of them. The copper washer would be worn down all around it's outer edge and the contacts for the wires would be worn down on one side. High amperage does that. On the vw starters I never tried to repair one. The deal is the solenoid engages the big amp contacts to supply the starter high current load to turn the starter and when the contacts get worn it takes more current to get it to work and that makes more heat and it progressively get worse. That is only the inside of the starter problem. The vw problem is the long distance of the start circuit. It starts at the battery, in the back, goes forward to the ign sw, in the front, then goes back to the back right beside the battery to the starter. On a bug it's about a foot between the two. All the connections including the ign sw get old and tired like me. A trigger using this long circuit works much better if it only needs to energize a small relay that in turn has a very short circuit from the battery to the starter, about 2 feet versus maybe 12 feet. When things get hot the resistance goes up and reduces current flow. Why not improve a 60's wiring circuit to 2009? It doesn't require the huge ford relay unless you are try to replace the 914 solenoid completely and that won't fix the long ign sw circuit.