Date:         Sun, 3 Jan 1904 02:16:20 -0500
Reply-To:     Rob Wilke <wilpho@MCN.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rob Wilke <wilpho@MCN.NET>
Subject:      Northern Starter Blues  -Mystery # 2
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854";
              x-mac-creator="4D4F5353"

For the past 18 months or so every time I take a road trip my starter
doesn't always work.  Last spring , for example my son and I were
driving down to Scottsdale, AZ and when we stopped for gas in northern
AZ after we'd fueled up she wouldn't start. On another trip last winter
to Denver the same thing happened.  The joke has been that my van will
only start when I'm home in Montana. On my trip to Mexico last month she
would not start after driving from Montana to St. George Utah.
Strangley enough this was after she sat all night.  Even stranger is she
started fine the entire time I was in Mexico!!  Then on my way to
California she wouldn't start in AZ again.  This continued on into CA
and only after driving thru LA in a rain storm did she start again fine
just south of Big Sur!  So is this a clue?? My theory is the transaxle
is throwing just a wee bit of oil up towards the starter on long trips
and maybe some contact isn't being made???  I know that's a
reach....after all she worked fine in Mexico.... I've had my mechanic go
thru the system( alternator too) and everything looks ok....It always
starts in Montana

Anybody got any good ideas on this??


Cheers
Rob