Vanagon EuroVan
Previous (more recent) messageNext (less recent) messagePrevious (more recent) in topicNext (less recent) in topicPrevious (more recent) by same authorNext (less recent) by same authorPrevious page (June 2001, week 2)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Wed, 13 Jun 2001 23:16:54 -0700
Reply-To:     Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solenoid Fix (was: How to turn the van over from the back)
Comments: To: '80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Yes, you can rig up an external relay. if the problem is a lack of voltage getting to the solenoid. Sometimes the problem is just a sticky solenoid - you can tell if this is the problem if you can get the starter to work after you whack the solenoid with a small hammer or screwdriver.

My Vanagon had this problem when I first got it - but strangely enough it went away after I had whacked on the solenoid a couple of times. I had a '71 van with the same problem that was not fixed until I replaced the starter. (Replacing the solenoid alone was more expensive than just putting in a rebuilt starter.)

Todd '88 Westy

'80 Westy Pokey wrote:

> Ken Wilford did this same thing for me once when I drove down to NJ (Thanks again Ken). At the time he mentioned that there was a Solenoid Fix available to avoid this problem but he didn't elaborate. Anyone know about this? > > Thanks, > Chris > > On Wed, 13 June 2001, Don Oldenburg wrote: > > > > > A few years ago, before my '73 Bus left this planet, it occasionally wouldn't turn over if I'd been hardnosing the highway at high speeds (between Florida's west coast and Virginia or New England in those days) and had pulled over for gas or something. > > All I'd do is make sure it was out of gear and the emergency brake was on, turn the key on, crawl under the back right side behind the wheel with a long screwdriver, and jump two connections on the solenoid. Started right up nearly every time. You'll know the right connections when they spark. I got so good at it I could do it at night without a flashlight. > > I sure do miss that old Bus! > > Don Oldenburg > > McLean, VA > > Thanks, > Chris Gronski > '80 Westy "Pokey" - SLOPOKEY > '87 Chevrolet Sprint - Ice Racer > '91 Pontiac Firefly - Convertable > www.vanagon.org & .ca > www.gronski.com, .org, & .ca > www.nineeleven.org & .ca


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.