Attempted restart on cold mornings -- NOTHING! Not a click from starter

This is getting to be a frustration point.

Car is a 1994 850 2.4 litre with automatic.

I start the car, and it can be idling for a while (like this morning).
I stop the engine and then go for a restart (going back into the
locked house) a very short time later.

When I turn the ignition key, I get nothing. The dash lights come on
but there's no sound from the engine -- not even a clicking from the
selenoids.

This goes for a period of up to an hour. Suddenly, everything works.

I've had this with a totally cold engine, with a slightly warmed
engine, even once on the highway.

What should I be looking at when I next take it to the shop?

Any other advice other than "don't shut it off!"

 

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,

Presumably there's an interlock on the gear selector which prevents the
engine from starting in anything other than P or N? Have you tried waggling
the gear selector in case the interlock is operating when it shouldn't be?

 

The electrical portion of the ignition switch is a notorious weak point.
Starters tend to fail in the manner you describe. Someone needs to check
both.

Bob

 

Firstly, dont idle a cold engine- drive it straight away.

Secondly, try moving the shifter slightly back and forth in P and N whilst
turning the key. If it starts, replace the PND position switch (common
fault) If it doesnt try waggling the key from side to side whilst in the
"start" position. If it then starts replace the ignition switch (separate
from the lock barrel- again common fault)

Tim..

 

Thanks, Rob and Tim!

Of course, the problem will not re-appear....

Not very good news on the car front, literally. Took it into the shop
and had them do a radiator flush as well as the usual OLF and tire
rotation.

Got a call about an hour after I dropped it off. "You have a leak in
the radiator with the tranmission intercooler. This is a
drive-no-more-till-fixed item."

ZOUNDS! five hundred dollars' worth of Zounds!

PLUS, my wife's little red rocket-sled (S40T) went in and is in need
of a complete set of booties (tires)....

Well, there go the Christmas gifts -- everyone's getting socks and
month-of-the-year underwear and pencils...

 

On the brighter side, count your blessings that it was caught before
transmission symptoms brought it to your attention!

Mike