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Date:         Fri, 9 Nov 2007 17:18:48 -0500
Reply-To:     Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Starter question
Comments: To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <989ea5a20711090927u4c6f6ecev482f775df62df3da@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

TJ, I would check the contacts in your shifter. The automatic Vanagons had a neutral safety switch mechanism that prevents the van from starting if the gear selector lever is not in either neutral or park position. Over the years these contacts get worn, dirty, and sometimes even corroded. Usually wiggling the shifter handle while turning the key will allow the van to start but if this doesn't work check these contact points out and replace them if they look worn. You can also bypass them to take them out of the equation of your starter problems. Just something to check before getting a rebuilt starter.

I can get the contact points for you or the Bosch starter which ever you find you need.

Let me know if I can help you further, Ken Wilford John 3:16 www.vanagain.com

TJ Hemrick wrote: > After a fruitless search of the archives (they locked up-again and now not > accessible), I have a question for all the pro's and anyone who's had to get > underneath their van and jump the starter contacts more than once. If the > switch portion is good (tested and verified) but I can start it up via the > starter/solenoid contacts, is there ANYTHING else that I may have missed? > Maybe some hidden component? Some secret VW Engineer torture trick? The > switch portion of the ignition was an easy suspect as it hesitated (or a > short pause) when you turn the key and 1-2 seconds later it would turn > over. Now, it won't turn over at all unless I climb underneath and do it > the old school way. It's an 87 Wolfsburg with an automatic. I'm just > throwing it out there BEFORE I climb underneath and start pulling the > starter. > Now don't start a digest war over this one. Me, I'm inclined to spend the > money and get a good replacement starter (aka Bosch) from a vendor. > Butttttt, some of you will swear by getting a no name starter one at FLAPS. > Great guarantee from the latter but most of you have mentioned that you had > to swap them out 2-3 times before you found one that would go the distance. > > I've been fortunate for a very long time that I never had starter problems > and overlooked most of the list comments. Now, that's going to bite me. I > still haven't located the cause for my stalling and hard to start issue. A > horrible time for the starter system to act up. German engineering at it's > finest! > > TJ > > 87 Wolfie > 87 Syncro > >


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