Date:         Mon, 24 Jun 2002 11:03:33 -0400
Reply-To:     "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <Doug@BEACONTEL.TV>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <Doug@BEACONTEL.TV>
Subject:      FW: URGENT: Stranded in Remote Area with disabled wife -
Content-Type: text/plain

Hi all. I have this exact starting problem with my '90 syncro - though not
always when hot. As a result, I always park on hills, or when none are
available, well, I just cross my fingers. Can someone explain a little bit
better what exactly that "hard start" kit does. And how tough it is to
install? For $7.95, I'm definitely going to give it a try. As for putting
jumper cables on the starter terminal... at least on a syncro it seems like
I'd need to have an extra set of joints in my forearm to do that!

Doug Fitz-Randolph
Freeport, ME
'90 Syncro

>>From:    The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject: Re: FW: URGENT: Stranded in Remote Area with disabled wife -
         please h elp!

> Does it sound to anyone else like he may need the  'hard start
> solenoid kit' like Gene Berg's sells?
> www.geneberg.com , under the electrical section part #GB-639-12U.
> It's about $15US. There is a discription of the problem on the web site.
They have
> overnight or 2nd day air service, I don't know about Canada though.
>
> Or the John Muir 'Idiot' book for aircooleds has a discription of the
> solenoid procedure on pg 446 of the 25th edition I have. I
> understand though that Berg's supplies a solenoid that draws less
> power to close in than the one Muir suggests.


If it is a low-voltage issue, this most commonly rears its head when the
engine/starter is hot (after a bit of driving). This is because the heat
causes the metal housing around the solenoid to contract just slightly,
requiring a bit of extra current to kick the solenoid. Often a short-term
fix is to give the starter solenoid a firm rap with a hammer (or a couple of
raps) and then try to start the car again. Particularly if this makes the
van start (and given that the starter/solenoid have already been replaced),
then indeed I'd try the relay kit.

Incidentally, I sell that kit for about half of the aforementioned price:
$7.95, genuine Bosch, part number WR1.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  (215) 234-VWVW
  www.busdepot.com