To me it sounds like you accidentally pulled off the coil wire at one end or the other. There is a large wire to the starter from the battery, but it would have to be connected for the engine to turn over. If the coil is disconnected, you won't get spark to any cylinder, so it'll crank all day and not even try to catch. But it's not really near the starter, so hmmm.... If you're not familiar, look at the distributor (left rear of the engine, with five wires/terminals on it) and trace the middle wire. If it's not connected to anything, that's your problem. The other end goes to the ignition coil, a cylindrical object, black or blue, that's about 2" in diameter and about 6" long. The wire goes to the middle of that. I'd be curious to know what it turns out to be. tx, bmc :) Ben McCafferty ben@volkscafe.com Volks Cafe 1823 Soquel Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-426-1244 http://www.volkscafe.com
> From: dgk1 <dgk1@HUMBOLDT.EDU> > Reply-To: dgk1 <dgk1@HUMBOLDT.EDU> > Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 13:41:41 -0800 > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: non-starting vanagon > > Mechanic tips wanted. The starter died in my '85 Westy and after replacing it > she no longer starts. Turns over great. Doesn't start. The thing is, even > when the other starter was close to death and would hardly turn over, she'd > start right up. And even after the starter died completely I could bump start > it just by pushing it by hand (alone) for a few feet and then popping the > clutch in gear. Now, nothing. The one clue I have is an extra wire (with a > really big terminal end that looks more like a bushing) in the vacinity of the > starter. I'm pretty sure I unhooked two, and now there's an extra one there > that doesn't seem to fit anywhere obvious. Help! > --Dion |
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