98 Ford escort wont restart.

Just started having this problem with the hot weather coming here to TX.

The car will not start back up if I drive it for a while, then stop, start up again within 5 mins. Only when the car is cool will it start. It will turn over a lot at first, then, it will just give me one crank, then freeze. Battery is ok. Alternator charging (checked with multimeter)

Is this heat realted, or spark, or possibly starter related?

How many miles on engine? The rotor in the starter may be grounding out on the fields due to the bushings being worn out. This is worse when the motor is hot because the rotor and fields expand and short out against each other. If your battery tested good under a load and your alternator is charging there is always the possilbiity of a bad connection on the battery or starter. You've probably already done this, but check for clean and tight battery terminals. You can check for a grounded out starter by getting the engine hot (when it won't turn over), turn on the headlights, hit the starter. If your lights get real dim your starter is bad.

How many miles on engine? The rotor in the starter may be grounding out on the fields due to the bushings being worn out. This is worse when the motor is hot because the rotor and fields expand and short out against each other. If your battery tested good under a load and your alternator is charging there is always the possilbiity of a bad connection on the battery or starter. You've probably already done this, but check for clean and tight battery terminals. You can check for a grounded out starter by getting the engine hot (when it won't turn over), turn on the headlights, hit the starter. If your lights get real dim your starter is bad.

I considered it might be the starter. When this last happened, everything dimmed in the car when I tried to crank it. I didnt check the headlights. The car has 56k Miles on it. I will try to test this tomorrow as we are due for 100 degree weather.