2.8 TGV Starter too hot?

Rivet

Founding Member
Any 2.8 TGV gurus out there? I have about 1k miles on the engine, although it has been sitting for about 5 years. I finally finished the rebuild and have been driving it around town...only twice now.

Earlier today I noticed that it didn't shut off exactly when I turned the ignition off. It took about half a second longer. Weird, but I didn't think much of it.

I went to move it around the driveway shortly after returning home and it wouldn't start. All lights came on. Voltometer showed the battery and fuel solenoid were good. I went to check the wires on the solenoid and it was extremely hot to the touch. I let it sit for 30 min and it fired right up.

I think the 200/300tdi's have a heat shield on the starter (not 100% positive). The 2.8 does not and it sits pretty damn close to the downpipe. Do you think these two are related (slow turn off and not starting)? Any recommendations?
 

Overlander

Well-known member
Callsign: KM4BOR
They should have put a heat shield on that starter. My solenoid cracked after driving cross country from NC to AZ and back. It was from the heat of the continuous driving. since the 300 TDI heat shield won't fit, there is heat shield wrap you can get from performance stores to make a blanket for it.

that said, I don't think that's your issue. I think you have a grounding issue for that short of a drive. The starter grounds though the engine, which is grounded thru the transmission and the the tcase. you are supposed to have a very large ground between the frame and the rear of the tcase. my guess is you are missing that ground, which means all it's grounding through is the motor and tcase mounts, which is not sufficient.

Ground the bajesus out of your powertrain. you can't over ground. hot wires=ground issue or insufficient size.

By the way, the 300 tdi starter is a drop in replacement for the 2.8. don't mess around with original replacement when the time comes.
 

Rivet

Founding Member
Any 2.8 TGV gurus out there? I have about 1k miles on the engine, although it has been sitting for about 5 years. I finally finished the rebuild and have been driving it around town...only twice now.

Earlier today I noticed that it didn't shut off exactly when I turned the ignition off. It took about half a second longer. Weird, but I didn't think much of it.

I went to move it around the driveway shortly after returning home and it wouldn't start. All lights came on. Voltometer showed the battery and fuel solenoid were good. I went to check the wires on the solenoid and it was extremely hot to the touch. I let it sit for 30 min and it fired right up.

I think the 200/300tdi's have a heat shield on the starter (not 100% positive). The 2.8 does not and it sits pretty damn close to the downpipe. Do you think these two are related (slow turn off and not starting)? Any recommendations?

They should have put a heat shield on that starter. My solenoid cracked after driving cross country from NC to AZ and back. It was from the heat of the continuous driving. since the 300 TDI heat shield won't fit, there is heat shield wrap you can get from performance stores to make a blanket for it.

that said, I don't think that's your issue. I think you have a grounding issue for that short of a drive. The starter grounds though the engine, which is grounded thru the transmission and the the tcase. you are supposed to have a very large ground between the frame and the rear of the tcase. my guess is you are missing that ground, which means all it's grounding through is the motor and tcase mounts, which is not sufficient.

Ground the bajesus out of your powertrain. you can't over ground. hot wires=ground issue or insufficient size.

By the way, the 300 tdi starter is a drop in replacement for the 2.8. don't mess around with original replacement when the time comes.

You're probably right on the grounds. It was just a short drive...about 10 min each way and it's in the 20's here in North TX. I'll have a look tomorrow and see if I'm missing that ground or if it needs to be cleaned up. Thanks for the info on the 300tdi starter. Helluva lot easier than trying to source a 2.8 version.


Edit: Just had a quick look in the garage. The tcase is grounded to the frame and the battery neg is grounded to the case (they share the same bolt on top of the tcase but I can't see it).
 

Uncle Douglas

Well-known member
Callsign: delete
should be an additional ground strap from one of the starter mounting bolts/studs over to the chassis or inner wing just to assist the starter
 
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