NHTSA Complaint #10136425 — 1978 PONTIAC FIREBIRD

WAS THERE A RECALL ON PONTIAC FIREBIRDS FOR HOT STARTING PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE STARTER AND SOLENOID BEING MOUNTED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK, CLOSE TOO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD? IT OCCURS WHEN THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD EFFECT THE STARTER SOLENOID SO THAT NO CHARGE GETS THROUGH TO THE STARTER. AS A RESULT, THE CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL THE SOLENOID COOLS DOWN. WHY CAN'T THE SOLENOID BE MOUNTED ELSEWHERE? I BELIEVE THAT GM NEVER ADDRESSED THE HOT STARTING PROBLEM IT IS A DANGER, ESPECIALLY IF ONE BREAKS DOWN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH INADEQUATE SHOULDERS OR CANNOT GET TO A SHOULDER. BEING UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE COULD CREATE A TRAFFIC HAZARD. ADDITIONALLY IN EMERGENCIES (MEDICAL OR NATURAL DISASTER), ONE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE THE EFFECTED VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. SINCERELY, JOHN OLIVA. *JB