Date:         Mon, 24 Jun 2002 19:36:19 EDT
Reply-To:     Willolyn99@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Marshall <Willolyn99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Whacking the solenoid
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

With all the discussion of gently beating the starter with hammers, etc., I
noticed a lot of folks spoke of crawling under the van, opening the deck lid,
and other inconveniences to hit the starter.  The trick is to go at it from
the side.  If you have a 2-foot pole (or a 62 cm pole), you just slide it
into the wheel well, at about the 10 o'clock position to the rear right tire.
 If it is your first time, do it in daylight or use a flashlight.  A couple
of whacks and you are good to go.  It like shooting pool, and you hardly have
to bend over -- no crawling or unloading involved!

       I did this for a few weeks, intermittently, until I disassembled,
cleaned, and lubed the solenoid.  I may not be an expert on fixing these
things, but I got all the good roadside tricks down pat. :)

Bill Marshall
85 GL Tiico
Ph.D. in Hillbilly Engineering