Date:         Fri, 17 Jan 2003 14:16:52 -0600
Reply-To:     Birkenfeld Jeff <BirkenfeldJeff@JOHNDEERE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Birkenfeld Jeff <BirkenfeldJeff@JOHNDEERE.COM>
Subject:      Re: 1984 automatic starter just clicks
Comments: To: "vwnut@HAWKCOMPUTING.COM" <vwnut@HAWKCOMPUTING.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

you wrote:
I do have a flakey nuetral-park switch.  But as long as the starter clicks
I think the switch is working?

No necessarily...
The switch passes current through a simple copper type band that moves along
the actual switch part via the gearshift lever.  The band attaches to the
lever and as you move the lever into gear or out of, the band contacts small
copper buttons on the switch face sliding surface and passes current through
the switch to different wires (reverse light and starter solenoid).  The
band degrades and eventually doesn't allow enough or any current through the
switch.  The buttons on the switch also get hot over time and seem to recess
into the plastic which also denies the optimum current flow.  When
troubleshooting vans with starting problem symptoms such as yours (automatic
trans), I've found that in 90% of the cases, replacement of this switch and
copper band fixed the problem.  One can check the voltage at the starter
while engaging the key---less than 11 or jumpy voltage would lean me to the
switch.  About $25 or so from vanagain.com

simple questions, do you have reverse light problems?  have to jiggle the
shift lever to start engine?
It's prolly the switch.

Good luck,
JB