Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:38:06 -0800
Reply-To: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Starter Behavior
In-Reply-To: <01ba01c7454f$3ce63040$657ba8c0@MAIN>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Okay, so one possibility is that the connections between the starter and
the battery have developed enough resistance that it can no longer draw
as much current as it needs to forcefully turn over the engine. Makes
sense to me. A little probing around, measuring voltage drops, should
help localize the problem. I'll take a look at that, and thanks!
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR
Robert Fisher typed:
> Mine was doing something similar and got progressively worse until it
> wouldn't turn over at all. I pulled it and tested it and it seemed ok
> so I
> cleaned off all the grunge and cleaned the grounds etc. It returned to
> 'normal' and has been so ever since, so you might give it a try.
> Basically with just about any electrical problem on these things it seems
> the first step is to find the ground for the circuit and clean it-
> even if
> it doesn't fix the problem it probably needed it anyway.
>
> Cya,
> Robert
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Felder" <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 7:29 AM
> Subject: Re: Starter Behavior
>
>
>> This symptom is well-know to me after all the years I've nursed
>> vanagons: your starter is on its way out if it hesitates longer than
>> "normal."
>>
>> It may go on like this for a while (meaning months) or it may quit
>> today. This is all assuming that your better and electricals are in
>> good shape.
>>
>>
>> Jim
>>
>> On Jan 31, 2007, at 9:20 AM, Michael Elliott wrote:
>>
>>> Mellow Yellow's starter behavior is a bit odd -- I think. When the
>>> engine (1.9L) is cold, by which I mean "Southern California cold,"
>>> e.g., in the 40's or 50's F, the starter doesn't just spin up, but
>>> has a
>>> curious hesitation.
>>>
>>> It goes like this: turn key, the starter engages and I hear the usual
>>> "gar-um" sound of the engine's flywheel being turned -- once, probably
>>> not even a full revolution. Then the starter hits resistance and
>>> hesitates - as if it was surprised by how hard the engine is to turn.
>>> Compression? It sounds like it comes to a full stop for a brief
>>> second.
>>> Then the starter overcomes the engine's resistance and spins it up and
>>> the engine starts just fine.
>>>
>>> It's been like this since I got Mellow Yellow. The engine always
>>> starts,
>>> but that brief pause is a puzzle. I have no idea if this is some quirk
>>> of 1.9L engines, some quirk of Mellow Yellow, or normal behavior.
>>>
>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>>> KG6RCR
>>>
>
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