Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2006 13:53:36 -0500
Reply-To: Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
Subject: Re: recap (still not fixed) Re: Update (not fixed...) Re: FIXED?
(and, advice needed...) (was: Re: low voltage,
starter running intermittently, but alternator is okay?)
In-Reply-To: <433d7fa10601271457i6d457a31ud30f8bbc70eefdc9@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Again, thanks for the replies guys... I'll get this fixed eventually. I
just went out and put a voltmeter on the back of the starter (well
solenoid, actually) on the post where current is supplied (on mine I
have two wires on this post?). Anyways, With everything off, voltage
there is 12.6, basically what it is at the battery. If I turn the key
and it fails to start, voltage at the starter is measures 11.8-11.9. Is
this voltage high enough that I should be suspecting my starter, or low
enough that I should be blaming my connections? In the meantime, I'm
going to check this connection, Mike, since I'm out of other ideas.
-Wes
(For those just joining the discussion, the van is an '84 1.9l manual,
with an intermittent start problem, which seems to be fairly unaffected
by temperature, or for how long it's previously been driven. Battery
tests fine at a FLAPS, and I've replaced the alternator, starter,
starter bushing, and replaced and cleaned the battery and transmission
grounds. Engine compartment ground is also new. Voltage when running
is 13.8v.)
Mike Frost wrote:
> On my '86, the big positive wire on the alternator goes to a black plastic
> junction box mounted on the firewall just above the thermostat housing.
> Inside the junction box, the wire is bolted to a stud which is the main
> connection point between the battery and the alternator/starter motor. I
> found this point to be corroded and the resistance was causing the
> connection to heat up. This is the most likely spot to cause a big drop in
> current/voltage going to the engine from the battery. The fact that you only
> have problems when starting makes it seem likely that the battery does not
> have a clean path to (or thru) the engine compartment. Once the engine is
> running, all the current is supplied by the alternator.
>
> On 1/27/06, Wesley Pegden <wes@cs.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>
>> Today I tried a new ignition switch and changed out the transmission
>> ground strap. Neither fixed the problem. I don't have any ideas past
>> the starter at this point. I also tried jumping the battery, as some
>> have suggested my problem might still be a bad battery. No dice.
>>
>>
>> -Wes
>>
>> Roger Sisler wrote:
>>
>>> ground straps, ignition switch plug,then take your new starter to an
>>> advance auto parts store and have them test it for free.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
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