Date:         Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:41:22 -0500
Reply-To:     Matt Sutton <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Sutton <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Starter/ground mystery-88 GL 4sp
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi Folks,

Getting the van back on the road after a long time mothballed (i.e. parked
down by the river), and having some starter issues. Here's the facts:
-new battery (12.5 v at rest)
-starter rebuilt in the last 2 yrs
-connections to starter cleaned
-at the turn of the key, fuel pump audible, but no action from the starter.

In a desperate "try anything" moment, I took my jumper cables and ran one
leg from the negative battery terminal to the engine bay, clamping onto the
metal fin that guides the accelerator cable. The van starts immediately.

I understand that this is a ground problem. But where? Do I just do them
all? Another clue: When the van was running, I measured the voltage at the
battery, and it was hovering around 12.8v. I my experience, this seems a
little low: I  normally see 13.5v when the engine's running.

Alternately: is there any reason not to just install a ground point in the
engine bay that is wired directly to the neg. battery terminal, bypassing
the chassis ground? Seems like a win for all systems (starter, FI, etc)

Hope you're all well,

Matt Sutton
78 GL