Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 23:45:03 EST
Reply-To: Ssittservl@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: S Sittservl <Ssittservl@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Sticking Starter Solenoid?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
> Date: 03/28/2000 0:29:28 AM CDT
> From: kdosmm@WORLDNET.ATT.NET (Karen Olson)
>
> Every once in a while, on long trips, when I stop to refuel, my 1984
Vanagon
> GL will not start for several minutes. When I turn the ignition to start,
> there is no noise except the sound of the fuel pump. After waiting several
> minutes it will start right up.
>
> If my solenoid is sticking when hot, will a new solenoid fix this?
>
> Is a sticking solenoid a sign of eminent solenoid total failure, leaving me
> stranded (automatic transmission)?
>
> Has anyone had experience, adding a relay, or 2nd solenoid, to switch
higher
> voltage from the starter battery cable, to the solenoid?
I have. I had a problem similar to yours on my '87 Westfalia.
After too much time spent in a parking lot in the rain banging
on the starter with a hammer, I took the van to the dealer, and
the guy there said that:
- He runs into this problem a lot on Vanagons.
- Adding a relay would probably not fix the problem - that's an old
kludge, and not really the right solution. (I had brought this idea up,
having heard about it on the list and in other places.)
- When this starts to happen, the end result is typically complete
starter failure.
- Repairing the starter or solenoid was not an option - I should replace
the starter (which was pretty expensive).
So, I went to a local VW garage, and they said:
- They run into this problem a lot on Vanagons.
- Adding a relay almost always fixes the problem. It would cost
about $100.
I called a couple of other places, and no one was willing to repair (as
opposed to replace) the starter. So, I decided to go with the relay option.
A few days later, while working under the van on another project, I took
a look at the new relay. They'd used crimp connectors that were smaller
than the wire gauge, and stripped half the strands out of the ends of the
wires to make them fit. A gentle tug caused one of them to pull apart.
So, I replaced the connectors.
Things seemed somewhat better, but it was hard to tell - the starting problem
was intermitant, weather-dependant, etc. Eventually things got worse,
and the van wouldn't start. Fortunately, it was in my driveway. I feebly
attempted to do a little starter repair myself - at least enough to be able
to drive it to a garage - but I was completely unsuccessful. I had the
van towed to the place that put in the relay, and they put in a new
(rebuilt) starter.
I've had no problems since then with the starter. I did, however, have
a problem with the relay. After a year or so, the rivets holding the case
rusted out, leaving the relay open to the elements, and it stopped
working. I replaced it, and painted the metal parts with liquid
electrical tape so it would hold up better.
So, the relay:
(1) Didn't fix the problem, and
(2) Cost extra money I didn't need to spend, and
(3) Added a brand new point of failure.
Maybe the relay is helping the new starter get more power, but
I doubt I need it. If I had another van and ran into the same
problem, I think I'd go right for the replacement starter, despite
the cost. I should have listened to the dealer.
> If I need a solenoid, should I go ahead and install a rebuilt starter?
I think so. Not being able to start when you're somewhere besides
home is a major problem. There are lots of engine problems that
you can limp along with for a while, and at least drive to a garage,
but a bad starter's not one of them. I'd reccomend the "safe" route,
despite the high cost.
By the way, I've heard others on the list say that they've solved
their problems with a solenoid repair, or a relay, so apparently
those solutions do work at least some of the time. This is just my
experience.
> Thanks!
> Scott Maurer (Boise)
> 1984 Vanagon, with 70K miles since engine rebuild (with much help from this
> list!)
- Steven Sittser
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