So, My starter would work perfectly cold, but as I start driving/running errands it would progressively get harder to start, until there was no crank. Wait an hour or so, and boom cranks right up.

I checked the resistance on the ground and power cable, all checked out.

So, I ended cleaning the ground connection and replaced with a back up starter.

All works well now, but I'm wondering if it really was the starter. Anybody else have this problem?

 

This happened to me until one day the thing just stopped altogether. I banged on it with a wrench and it started, albeit not without a fight. Ultimately I replaced the starter. My guess is the solenoid failed, and hitting it freed it up just enough. It was doing the same cold/hot behavior.

 

Thats what I was looking for. Is your rig flat/satin black with a white roof? I was just looking at doing that for my daughters oxidized silver paint. I thought the white roof would keep it cool in the summertime. If so, can you post some pics? Im gonna bite your style, but I promise not to drive to Portland!!!

 

Do you have the heat shield?

 

Yes, it's on. Seems like it took an extra hour to remove and reinstall when I changed out the replacement.

 

You just bend it out the way

 

I took it off because I was worried about breaking my knock sensor, but turns out it was already broken!!!

I Just super glued it back together and seems to be working fine.

 

I just finished fixing my starter
The starting was getting sluggish then eventually failed.
It turn out to be the wire from the relay to the starter, it was corroded to bits... I was under the car and had my son operate the starter when the wire went red hot and the oil caught fire... nice! I replaced that wire with 8 strands of bare 14 gauge and then wrapped it with layers of insulation.
The factory starters are superb, very well built and put together. I've seen year old starters looking worse than mine 15 years old. They are coated with a resin to keep dirt, water and mud out. Easy to disassemble and reassemble.
When installing the starter, i found that the connector that triggers the relay had corroded a bit. That's why hitting the starter with a hammer makes it work again... the connection is re-established. Unfortunately you have to remove the starter to clean the connector. Use battery grease to protect your connections.

SD