Date:         Mon, 29 Apr 2002 12:42:19 -0700
Reply-To:     Craig Oda - Personal email <craigoda@COMMUNITYBUILDERS.INFO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Oda - Personal email <craigoda@COMMUNITYBUILDERS.INFO>
Subject:      Re: starter wiring
Comments: To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@enteract.com>
In-Reply-To:  <3CCC25D7.855C0E80@enteract.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Larry,
have you ever had to install the relay on the "Vanagon" models or was
this only on the "Bus" models?  Mine is a 1983.5.  The large nut is
the positive "live" battery lead right?  On my solenoid, it is covered
with a rubber cap.

The other wire is ground right?  I think it is terminal 50.

So, can I just run an aligator clip from terminal 50 to the ground
terminal of the battery of the chassis frame to test whether or not
the starter works?

-- Craig


On Sun, 28 Apr 2002, Larry Alofs wrote:

> 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.
>

--
Craig Oda   craigoda@communitybuilders.info
VW Info: 1983 VW Westfalia, water-cooled, automatic
http://communitybuilders.dhs.org/craigoda/vw/