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
Comments: To: george_joann@BELLSOUTH.NET
In-Reply-To:  <20061012134822.BFBW25205.ibm65aec.bellsouth.net@mail.bellsouth.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; DelSp="Yes"; format="flowed"

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