Date:         Sun, 22 Jun 2003 21:16:58 -0400
Reply-To:     Greg Marshall <earthboy@ROGERS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Greg Marshall <earthboy@ROGERS.COM>
Subject:      Hard start problem and diagnosing bad starter
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi folks.

First off, this applies to my air cooled van, but I imagine those with
water cooled vans may have tips too.

Lately, my van has been getting progressively harder to start.  It's
worst when cold.  I  have to try and start it twice, pump the gas, or
let it turn over a bunch of times to get it to go.  It still happend
when it's warm. When the van does start, it seems to idle real slow and
quite for a couple of seconds, and then come up to s strong even idle.
Other than the starting problem,  the van is running stong and smooth,
and getting good mileage.  The following is a list of new parts the van
has so we can rule some things out...

1) New battery
2) New plugs, cap rotor, wires
3) New cylinder head temp sensor
4) Many new fuel system components, tank, pump, filter, lines, etc.

Any ideas on this one?  I suspect the starter, but don't really know how
to test it, other than see if it has 12 volts to it.  Do starters either
work or not work, or is it possible than a worn starter would just spin
too slowly to get the motor goin' on the first try?

Thanks,

Greg
82 Westy