Vehicle won't start when hot

A common problem that's surfaced a great deal lately is a car/truck that starts fine when the engine is cold but won't when the engine is warm. Most of the time, the car will require a jump start with a warm engine to get it to start. Most mistakenly assume a bad battery and change it out, only to have the same problem. What happens is most starters don't just "quit" when they are defective. A bad starter will usually start your vehicle when it's absolutely cold. Once warm, the starter will behave as follows:

• No power
• Click then nothing
• All other electrical is fine (headlights, stereo, alarm etc)

If your car or truck won't start when the engine is warm, but starts fine when it's cold, you most likely have a bad starter. Although replacing the battery is less expensive, it rarely (if ever) will resolve this issue. Consider the age of the car / starter when these symptoms occur. If you have an older vehicle (older than 5 years) then replacing the starter is a good place to start prior to buying other electrical components (battery, alternator).

Always bring the vehicle to a shop that offers a free electrical diagnostic test to confirm the electrical system is sound to rule out an electrical problem first. If the electrical system is sound, I'd go ahead and replace the starter.
Although this tip will show under the Lincoln category, it applies to all makes and models.