Date:         Wed, 4 Jul 2001 20:28:51 -0400
Reply-To:     Hans Brouwer <h.brouwer@SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Hans Brouwer <h.brouwer@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject:      Re: lazy starter
Comments: To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi Larry,

The battery is less than a year old with lots of cranking power.

This is a feedback I received from a list member.

***************
You've just described a starter going bad. If the insulation in the field
windings starts to deteriorate, or, the brushes get worn it takes more power
to turn the starter. Since a cold engine has less friction then a hot engine
it turns over fast when cold and slow - due to more drag because things have
warmed up and clearences are tighter - after the engine warms up. It will
also take your battery down to because of the increased current draw of the
worn starter. Sorry.
**********

In another posting you mentioned you are using Mobil 1 oil. Would that be
15W50 synthetic oil?

Bye,

Hans
Cumberland, Ontario
86 Westfalia
92 Cabriolet

Larry Alofs wrote:

> Hans Brouwer wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > Some people tell me I have a lazy starter in our 86 Westfalia since it
> > cranks over slowly (always starts though).
> >
> > When I recharge the battery, the starter cranks over at a nice pace but
> > after a short or long trip we are back to the slow cranking.
> >
> > I do not think it is a starter problem but an alternator problem. I
> > guess the alternator is not charging the battery properly.
> >
> > Do you list members have any ideas? new brushes?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Hans
> > Cumberland, Ontario
> >
> > 86 Westfalia (his)
> > 92 Cabriolet (hers)
>
> The alternator should give you a voltage of a little more than 14 volts at
> the battery with the engine running at a reasonable speed (maybe 2000 rpm)
> in order to charge properly.
>   Is your battery very old?
>
> Larry A.