Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 10:04:48 -0800
Reply-To: Jack <john.cook58@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jack <john.cook58@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: What is a Hard Start Relay Kit? Who sells them?
In-Reply-To: <6.1.0.6.2.20040625101005.05f0c008@pop1.attglobal.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Hooray!!! Someone speaking up with some common sense.
Bottom line: If the starter solenoid isn't working as designed, find what's
wrong & fix it! Adding a relay is patching a problem. How many thousands
of Vanagons have been working just fine without that added relay? And
consider that relays are added electro-mechanical components that can and do
fail by themselves (especially if exposed to a harsh environment).
But, it's true that an added relay will reduce the existing voltage drop to
the solenoid and possibly make the system more robust - until something else
fails or the pre-existing problem continues to get worse. How much more
robust? Dunno. I've never seen anyone quote any actual voltage
measurements.
It's interesting to note that the starter solenoid is actually a type of
relay; ie, it closes very heavy contacts to supply starting current to the
motor. So adding a relay means there are actually 2 relays in series doing
basically the same thing.
Had intended to stay out of this. Oh well.
//Jack
ps: The headlights are a different story. The original design more clearly
cut ($) corners. There, in addition to increased light output, added relays
may be extending the life of the light switch; so, the benefit more clearly
outweighs the disadvantage.
Date sent: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 10:36:14 -0400
Send reply to: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: What is a Hard Start Relay Kit? Who sells them?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> This is your conscience speaking ;-)
>
> IMNSHO* --
>
> Do the work and find out what your problem is. If the problem is that you
> have poor wiring to the start solenoid, adding the relay might be an
> alternative to fixing the wiring. If the problem is that the solenoid is
> mechanically sticky and won't operate normally, adding the relay might be a
> temporary alternative to repairing the solenoid. If the solenoid has a
> shorted coil, adding the relay might be a temporary alternative to replacing
> it. If it's not any of these, a relay will do squat for you -- except make a
> tempting though expensive path to put off the tedious and maybe scary job of
> actually tracing the fault.
>
> :)
> d
> *In My Not So Humble Opinion, i.e. I declare myself an authority on this
> subject. I so declare. I've seen it operate too many times in my own
> retrospectoscope. Most vivid example, not totally germane but close enough
> -- my Saab 96** right-rear brake became noisy. At the time I'd never been
> inside a drum brake, scared to death of them, thought they worked by majick.
> I actually convinced myself that the noise was from the front, and replaced
> the pads. The mixture of emotions when this had no effect, and the sure
> knowledge that I'd actually known it wouldn't, was...illuminating. Searing,
> even.
>
> ** I seem to have been a glutton for punishment -- Sunbeam Alpine II, Fiat
> 128 Special, Saab 96 V4, '78 Plymouth Horizon, Vanagon. Sigh...all except
> the Plymouth had delightful characteristics. Plymouth had good paint and
> loved to suggest that it would really prefer going backside-first if I'd only
> find a little bigger tar strip for an excuse. It was the Plymouth that
> having caught me bending over its innards beside a road on the Eastern Shore
> of MD, decided that the last big semi had whipped by a little too close --
> and folded its hood prop and hood right onto my head.
>
> At 08:27 6/24/2004, kevin obrien wrote:
> >Hello All:
> >
> >One of the List Members mentioned the solution to my
> >Ignition Switch Mystery (see my previous post) might
> >be a Hard Start Relay Kit.
> >
> >Can someone explain what they are & do...and how you
> >get one?
> >
> >Thanks!
> >Kevin
> >
> >
> >
> >__________________________________
> >Do you Yahoo!?
> >Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!
> >http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
>
> --
> David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage," '85 GL "Poor Relation"
| 
