Starting problem: Try tapping the starter with a metal object. If you don't have a hammer or similar handy, you can use the front table bracket. First locate the starter housing. Then when you know the location of the starter, try to tap it with the long end of the table bracket. That always got my vanagons and buses going again. When the problem started to happen on my '90 westy at 80k miles, I took the starter apart, and changed the grease in the starter solenoid with a small amount of synthetic high-temp wheel bearing grease. It seems the grease Bosch uses in the solenoid is too sticky. I haven't had a starting problem since, and it's been another 60k miles. It's a common phenomena with VW buses and vanagons, and even other vee dubs like Dashers, etc. I've seen it happen with new rebuilt starters as well. Good luck. Harald '90 westy |
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Vanagon mail messages have been archived.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.