Date:         Wed, 9 Mar 2005 21:20:15 -0600
Reply-To:     Chuck Reisinger <chuckphoto@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Reisinger <chuckphoto@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Need help - will  not crank
Comments: To: Joel Walker <jwalker17@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Nothing turns when I jumped it...so I'm onto the nest step tomorrow...if
anyone is willing to give me a 1-2-3...any help is really appreciated

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joel Walker" <jwalker17@earthlink.net>
To: "Chuck Reisinger" <chuckphoto@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: Need help - will not crank


> Took 89 Westy out today....sat for a month or so....started right
> up...had a couple of stalls...pulled in for gas...filled up....would
> not start...horn, radio, and lights all worked...it started ok using a
> reverse push start....Any ideas?
>
> battery is dying. probably a dead cell.
>
> that's assuming that you mean you turned the key and the starter did
> NOT spin the engine.
> but it might also be the ignition switch ... they can go bad suddenly
> (the electrical part). also pulling yourself up into the driver's seat
> by holding onto the steering wheel will,over time, stress that
> electrical part and cause it to fail. too many keys on the key ring
> will also do it. takes years, but it means a new ignition switch.
>
> now, if you mean by 'not start' that the starter spun and spun and the
> engine just wouldn't fire up, that's a different story. i'd start by
> looking at the relays in that black box above the ignition coil. pull
> each one out, one by one, and check for corrosion and/or burning.
> those relays power the injectors and the fuel pump.
> then i'd start checking the wiring. brown wires first. look for clean
> tight connections. get rid of any corrosion you find.
> but also get the battery checked, too. it can happen that the voltage
> can drop below 10.0 volts and the starter WILL spin, but the fuel
> injection computer won't work at that voltage. go figure.
>
> good luck!
> joel
>