Hot Starter

I have heard of several members who have starting problems, especially when the engine is hot. The starter and solenoid are in close proximity to the exhaust manifold, and subsequently can get very hot during desert off-roading.

This situation can be compounded when the factory heat shield is removed, or headers are added. One possible solution is to relocate the solenoid to a cooler location. When I was at the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, I saw a Scout II which had a second solenoid mounted on the firewall. The original solenoid remained in place but had been shorted across the terminals with a copper strap. This conversion requires a second solenoid, and two heavy gauge battery cables to complete.

Starter Relay
by John Airgood (5/93)

A good way to get maximum battery power to your starter during start-up is to bring power directly from the battery and not through the wiring harness. This can be accomplished by using a Chrysler-style starter relay. elsewhere in this issue for part numbers and connections. . The relay can be mounted on the firewall or inner fender.