problem with battery, strange relay in jackbox

HI US friends,
1) I have a splendid 1969 stingray (pls look at my e-mail name)
and i'm very proud of it.After making some (hard) work on
the engine, everything is now ok,but after riding about 25 miles
when I stop, I find the battery verry warm...
and when I try to restart, the battery seems to be low, and I
must wait about half an hour to restart again, then no problem...
2) There is a strange relay (seems verry old) in the jackbox with
electrical lines going in and out (going nowhere...)

pls can you help me andre

andre,
1st. Hello and Welcome to the C3VR!

The strange relay in your rear jack compartment, may be part of the anti-theft alarm circuit. I may be wrong, but I looked in my Haynes repair manual. And this is the only thing that I see for wiring and relays in that area of the car.
The other problem you are having with your battery may be the starter. The starter might be getting to hot from the engine or exhaust that runs near it. Starter and heat don't mix very well. Especially older starters. We call it "heat soak." This happens when you shut the car off. The temperature under the hood will actually increase for a short time (cooking the starter). So until the starter has time to cool off, the resistance in the starter is very high and the battery is working hard to over come the high resistance while cranking the engine. Therefore making the battery very warm. You may want to fabricate a heat shield for around the starter or try a (expensive) high torque mini-starter, they have more clearance around them for more air space between the engine and exhaust.
Hope this helps you out!
Regard, Sarge

Andre,
Hi and welcome to C3VR. I have starting problems also when it is 85 or hotter and the car has been running for 45 minutes or so. My problem is the starter will not do anything and the selenoid won't even click. I have found that if the car sits until the temp gauge is back down to 190-195 degrees, it starts right up. This usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes with the hood open. Very embarassing in a gas station, so I no longer turn off the car when I get gas .
Best fix is to either get a heat shield for the starter, buy a high torque starter from GM or get a mini starter.
Good Luck
ps....I also have a '69 427/390 and they are a ball to drive

Jegs and Summit sell a "remote starter solenoid kit" (Jegs P/N 555-10301 $24.95) that I think is suppose to solve this problem. It's on page 113-N in the Jegs catalog.

The relay could be for the rear window defroster if you have one. On the 80 Vette the anti theft relay is under the center console

Thanks Glenn

The relay is for your antitheft horn which is located on the fender behind the drivers side rear wheel. Get out the creeper and slide in behind the wheel and you'll see the horn. Good luck.

Hi Andri!
The heat soak issue with the starter sounds accurate, but the warm battery sounds like overcharge from the alternator. Get a mulitmeter and check the charging voltage at the battery - if it's over 14-15 volts dc your voltage regulator is probably bad, should be non-adjustable so replace it.
Cheers
Craig
CRG Performance
Baltimore, MD

Hi Andri

posted at the wrong place (Newbie on web and newbie with
Vette 1975

I have 2 relays in the jack tray box
1 for the alarm 1 for the seat buzzers
and something about sequencing module

hope that helps

Howdy Andre and welcome! I have had the same starting problem with my car. Mine turned out to be the starter and not the solenoid. I first changed the solenoid and had the same problem. I then changed the starter and solenoid and cleared the problem. I also installed a heat shield to help prevent the problem.

My 82 has a fuel pump relay in the battery area, next to the jackbox.