Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 21:17:38 -0800
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 91 Vanagon Manual - slow cranking....
In-Reply-To: <COL109-W50A479E013C94FB95E6DECD4280@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hey Brett, you need to clean all three grounds - the one in the battery box,
the one at the front of the transmission and the one in the engine
compartment.
I never had any electrical problems or slow starting but when I did my
Subaru transplant I ended up adding a second engine ground and a second
transaxle ground, just because the straps were attached to the engine and
trans respectively.
Anyway, my old 2.1 WBX starter whirls the 2.5 litre engine plenty quick, and
everything else electrical works better, faster brighter.
Jake
On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 6:22 PM, brett rueff <rueffy@hotmail.com> wrote:
> ok, so I have read the archives and done some diagnosing - im looking for
> some geniuses out there to tell me im right or that i missed the obvious.
>
> 91 Vanagon Manual with subaru EJ22 but stock Vanagon starting system. Very
> slow cranking - it has been getting a little bit worse since I got the van a
> year ago. It would always start but had a slow crank. Its getting bad
> enough now that I need to fix it.
>
> As part of this process I cleaned the battery terminals, removed and
> cleaned the ground strap and removed and cleaned starter solenoid terminals.
>
> Testing with Voltmeter revealed.
>
> Battery at Rest - 12.57V (after an overnight charge to make sure its full)
> Insert Key and turn accessories on (includes headlights) - 11.63V
> Cranking measured across battery (+ battery post and - battery post) - 10V
>
> Cranking measured at starter (+ on main solenoid pole - on starter housing)
> - 8.5-9V
>
> Voltage Drop positive side (+ to pos battery terminal - to solenoid main
> pole) - 0.2V
> Voltage Drop negative side (+ to starter housing - to neg battery terminal)
> - 1V
>
> So I concluded starter. 8.5-9V should be good enough for a cranking right?
> I removed and took it to FLAPS where they bench tested it and said it was
> fine - I watched the test and it span like mad. Reinstalled and still slow
> cranking. I am ruling out oil viscosity problems as its been about 7
> degrees C all week here in lotus land Vancouver BC.
>
> I can only guess its still the starter and its laboring under the load of
> the engine. I read in the archives the bushing on the end of the starter
> wears and causes hard cranking. Based on my testing that is all I can
> figure is the problem. Suggestions before I pull the thing apart again?
>
> Thank you gang. Will post to the vanaru list as well.
> brett
>
>
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX - 'The Grey Van'
1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Subie - 'Dixie'
Crescent Beach, BC
www.thebassspa.com
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
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