Date:         Sun, 20 Nov 2005 18:28:52 -0500
Reply-To:     William Greenamyer <william.l.greenamyer@BOEING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         William Greenamyer <william.l.greenamyer@BOEING.COM>
Subject:      Starter problem

Here is one that I am sure most of you haven't herd before but I hope
someone can help.  As you know, I have been working on the flanges for the
exhaust system on my 84GL.  Got everything all done and back together.  No
leaks.  It should pass smog without a problem.  Went to start it and all I
got was starter motor noise.  Motor was not under load.  Thought it might be
the battery being low since the van sat in the driveway for several weeks.
Charged the battery over night.  Good voltage, everything ready and tried to
start her.  Same thing.  Figured it must be the starter.  This one has a
couple years (about 70-80K miles on the van) so I figured it probably had
oil and stuff in it so I swapped it out with a starter I had rebuilt.  Ready
to go again and the same thing.  I get the starter motor and no engaging the
flywheel.  Checked the old starter off another battery and sure enough,
everything still works.  Got good voltage to the starter and the special low
voltage relay in the system.  Anyone got an idea as to why these starters
are not engaging the flywheel?

William