Date:         Sat, 20 May 2006 12:39:40 -0400
Reply-To:     David Gunning <davidgunning@PIVOT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Gunning <davidgunning@PIVOT.NET>
Subject:      Re: Seized Engine?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Gunning" <davidgunning@pivot.net>
To: "MM" <marknyc28@YAHOO.COM>
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: Seized Engine?


>
> Doesn't sound very encouraging but I had a similar kind of problem where
> the engine in my vanagon refused to turn over by conventual means.  It was
> extremely perplexing until I was able to determine that the problem
> appeared to be the lack of a good ground.  For whatever reason the ground
> strap was not grounding correctly.  Not sure in which location the ground
> failed, either at the battery compartment ground or the body ground strap
> which goes, I think, from the chassis to the tranny, although I might be
> wrong about it going to the tranny, although I think I may be correct.  No
> matter what I did, and I tried everything I could think of, I could not
> restore the original ground.
>
> In any event, my solution was to run a heavy duty battery cable directly
> from the negative battery post to the starter.  Looks kinda odd having
> this heavy duty cable running under the van from the battery to the
> starter, but there you go.
>
> This is one of those patch jobs that was never redone although I suppose
> it should be.  Part of the difficulty is that there is some sort of
> special electrical conductive paint which MUST BE USED, as I understand
> the situation, whenever the ground has been lost.  The ground strap from
> the chassis is a braided copper connector, I believe, and on my vanagon
> about half the braids are no longer there.  Which may have been the cause
> of the original ground loss failure, for all I know..
>
> So far as your engine not being able to be turned over by hand, that
> doesn't sound good.  But couldn't that  theoretically be caused by another
> problem such as a worn clutch giving way or bad clutch slave valve?  I
> dunno.  I am no mechanic, but there must be some sort of way to be able to
> determine if the engine is toast or something else going on.
>
> Do your headlights still work?  If not, that would seem to suggest you
> have maybe lost your ground.
>
> Dave
>
> davidgunning@pivot.net
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "MM" <marknyc28@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 10:58 AM
> Subject: Seized Engine?
>
>
>> Hi all, I need the lists'expertise on this:
>>
>> 1985 Westy 4 speed.
>> rebuilt Boston Bob Engine 8,000 miles on it.
>>
>> The engine quit on my one day pulling out of a parking
>> spot in my neighborhood.  After it quit i tried to
>> restart, but the starter wouldn't turn over the
>> engine.
>> I thought since it had been sitting the battery was
>> discharged, so i rolled it back into its parking
>> spot,where it sat for another month.
>> After charging the battery, and still no turn-over, i
>> suspected the starter.
>> I had other suspicions so i pulled the plugs, and
>> tried to turn the pulley by hand to no avail. I did
>> manage to turn the water pump pulley and the
>> alternator pulley by hand by slacking the belt.
>> I cleaned all my contacts to the starter and the
>> ground strap still no turn over.
>> Finally this morning, i bought a tow rope borrowed a
>> friend and his truck to tow the westy out of its spot
>> and down the road.  I then tried to pop the clutch to
>> get it started, but the wheels would just drag down
>> the street!
>> Is this engine toast???!!!  I have faithfully changed
>> the oil every 2000 miles..
>> What could have mechanically failed that is holding
>> the engine from turning??  I know the engine hasn't
>> turned more than a quarter turn by the red timing
>> marks still on the pulley.  HELP....
>> I just cant believe that these engines are SO
>> fragile.Especially since i installed this one myself..
>> Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>>
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>