Date:         Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:39:51 -0500
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject:      Re: starter wiring
Comments: To: Craig Oda - Personal email <craigoda@COMMUNITYBUILDERS.INFO>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Craig Oda - Personal email wrote:
>
> My 1983.5 Westy sometimes has problems starting.  When I turn the key
> nothing happens.  However, if I do it enough, it always starts (so far).  I
> have checked the connections of the battery and the starter and the
> wires are nice and tight.  I figure either the battery is low or the
> starter is going bad.  Or, it could be the switch that controls
> whether I'm in park or neutral on my automatic transmission.
>
> Since I'm still driving the Westy, sometimes to distant places (or
> course ;)   I was wondering how to cross the wires on the solenoid to
> try and start the motor if I wanted to.
>

Anything that make a connection between the large (+) cable on the
solenoid to the spade connector should activate the solenoid and
starter.
  You might consider a relay to do this, activating it with the wire
which normally goes to the push-on spade terminal on the solenoid.  I
believe that BD sells a "hard start relay" kit.

Larry A.
3 previous vans with relays installed.