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Date:         Thu, 22 Apr 2004 10:26:15 -0700
Reply-To:     Craig Oda <craigoda@COMMUNITYBUILDERS.INFO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Oda <craigoda@COMMUNITYBUILDERS.INFO>
Subject:      Re: Starting problem
Comments: To: Norm - RoweBoat <norm@ROWEBOAT.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <00b601c42819$de40f930$df3f1c40@oemcomputer>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Crawl under the van and jumper the thick battery cable to the solenoid switch trigger wire. Just touch it to see if it starts, don't hook it up. Also, don't touch the live lead to any ground. Look at the Bentley for which wire is the right one. If the van doesn't start, tap it with a hammer and try again. You can also run a jumper cable from the battery to a jumper wire on the solenoid if you don't want to mess with which one is the live lead. A voltmeter helps.

If it starts with the jumper directly on the solenoid, check one of the following: - ignition switch - shifter on automatic (jiggle it between P and N) you might have to replace the switch - grounds, especially that thick one under the van

If it starts when you hit it, but not before, you may have to replace the starter, but find out if there is another problem first. You can also try rigging a hot-start relay to draw power in a shorter path from the live lead to the solenoid and use the current from the ignition switch as the trigger. There's a bunch of info on this in the archives, including diagrams and info on parts.

Norm - RoweBoat wrote:

>We purchased a 1985 Vanagon about two weeks ago. It had been sitting for 3½ >months (the owner had died). I got the keys, opened it up, put the key in >the ignition, turned it, and the engine started immediately! We were doing >just fine with it for three days, then it started doing something really >screwy. It would start up just fine, but as soon as we turned it off again, >it wouldn't start again. It would turn and turn and turn, but not even a >cough or apparent attempt to fire. Gas pedal up, gas pedal floored, no >difference. Even pumping the gas pedal did nothing. Spark was going to the >plugs, gas was getting into the cylinders, but no start. Let it sit for 45 >minutes or so and it will start up just fine. Doesn't make any difference >if it's been driven for an hour or a minute and a half. Drive it a half a >block, turn it off, and it won't start again for 45 minutes or so. For a >majority of our driving, that's not a problem. But we can't turn off the >engine at a gas station unless we're going to leave it at the pump for >almost an hour! (Most gas station people don't like that.) If we're going >in the store for just a few items, We're going to have to wait after we're >done shopping. Put in a new battery. No difference. New plugs (no wires >in stock), rotor, and distributor cap. No difference. Starts like a champ >first thing in the morning. Drives very nicely and smoothly. Idles great. >Turn it off, and it won't start again for a while. But 45 minutes or so >later, it starts like a champ. Any ideas? Thanks. > >Norm > >


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