Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 13:19:30 -0500
Reply-To: tom@SALICOS.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom S <tom@SALICOS.COM>
Subject: Re: Intermittent Starter
In-Reply-To: <20061012134822.BFBW25205.ibm65aec.bellsouth.net@mail.bellsouth.net>
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Quoting "G. Jannini" <george_joann@BELLSOUTH.NET>:
> Hola List,
>
> Thursday morning started out well, but then our Tiico Westy
> refused to start after an ice cream stop on a trip from Atlanta to
> Circle yer Wagens in Sevierville TN.
>
> Symptoms: Turn key- no response, neither clicking nor
> cranking...panel lights didn't even dim. Whacking on the starter
> from underneath with a hammer didn't work either, like it had before
> we replaced the dad-gum thing. Got a push start from a couple of
> good old boys, and proceeded up the highway.
>
> I tried turning off and on again whilst driving, but still
> nothing happening. When we reached our destination, I cleared the
> wayback, opened the hatch and made another attempt to start
> normally, beating on the starter from above- still nada.
>
> Next up, I tried hot wiring from the solenoid to the positive
> terminal on alternator- Bingo! (Thanks to Frank Condelli for having
> me leave a wire connected to the solenoid for just such an
> emergency.) I went to Lowes, bought some speaker wire and a door
> bell switch, extended the hotwire setup forward, put all our stuff
> back into place, and proceeded to have some fun at the show.
>
> What happened when when we fixed to leave Sunday morning should
> be pretty obvious to you all- the dammed thing started in the normal
> manner, and has continued to do so ever since.
>
> ::Scratches head:: Ignition switch? Warranty issue with starter? ???
>
> George & Jo/ATL '89 WesTiico, Wernher
>
Sounds a lot like the problem I had after my Subie conversion. But on
mine there was a period where the solenoid would not engage fully and
made a grinding sound. Replaced the starter but it continued to
happen periodically.
I would hear the relays pulling in with the key switch, but no start.
I measured the voltage on the starter wire when this was happening and
it was 7 volts with the key in the "Start" position.
I jumpered the starter wire to the alternator and it fired right up.
I had the ignition switch replaced and it still did it. Finally I
installed a relay to provide power to the starter and have not had the
problem since.
With mine, there was a warning. Before it happened, there would be a
time when I turned the key and there was about a half second
hesitation before the starter engaged.
Good luck.
Tom Salicos
'87 Syncro Westy EG-33
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