Date:         Mon, 14 Apr 2003 21:43:36 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: Day Spent In Vanagon Hell
In-Reply-To:  <000901c3021e$fed12660$bb48b141@compaq>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>I know you've all been there-I was there today.1984 Vanagon, ran
>fine done to Everybus, problems out the wahzoo on the way home
>First, Sunday morning it wouldn't start-no response at all from the
>starter. It finally started, but on the way home the auto trans
>wasn't shifting right, no power on hills, and to top it off, 50
>miles from home at a gas stop I notice it's leaking coolant form the
>radiator. It made it home though. I go out Tuesday evening to start
>it, and once again, no response from the starter. It's been that way
>until today. First thing I found was the contact bridge on the auto
>shift lever (prevents starting in gear) is missing-thought for sure
>that was it. No, found it's been bypassed. Next I measure the
>voltage at terminal 50 on the solenoid-barely 2 volts! I found a
>piece of 12 GA solid wire( like you'd find in your home wiring)
>running from under the dash to terminal 50. I replace that with a
>piece of heavy gauge  stranded wire, and read 11.6 volts now at
>terminal 50-still no response from the starter. Last resort: seller
>gave me a used starter/solenoid. I install that (using many foul
>words in combinations I've never thought of before). Now, strange
>thing-both old and new solenoids only have terms 30 and 50- no 16 as
>shown in Bentley. Anyway, get the "new" starter in and hook
>everything up-still no response-4th turn of the key I hear the
>engine bump as I released the key-turn it again-no response-turn it
>one more time and it fires right up. I have started it least a
>dozens times now with no problem. I don't think I actually did
>anything though-I think it started because "it wanted to". All these
>things I checked to no avail, and then it starts. Weird. I still
>don't trust it though. Anyone ever experience something like this?
>Jeff


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