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Date:         Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:00:08 -0800
Reply-To:     tw67syncro@GMAIL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Thomas Wilsher <tw67syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Hot Start Problem
In-Reply-To:  <PNELLDJMDAENDKODABPCGELEEBAA.badkarma@ttlc.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

This is a very timely discussion for me, as I'm putting in a hard start relay right now. This is something I'm just wiring together myself (wasn't aware of Jay's kit when I started this), but it's following the WR-1 schematic, which is pretty straightforward. However, right now the starter solenoid is not disengaging after the engine starts. After the engine starts I am seeing around 8V on the starter wire, which evidently wasn't enough to trigger the solenoid but is sufficient to trigger the hard start relay.

The site below mentions that this can be a problem with GoWesty's aux battery kit. I don't have that kit, but I do have a similar setup with a relay, triggered with the wire that used to trigger the fridge fuse. One difference is that apparently GoWesty's kit suggests cutting into the wiring behind the fuse panel. I have kept all that stock, and am using Mark Drillock's trick of pulling a wire from the aux battery and plugging it into the #3 fuse instead.

BTW, my first suspicion was that it was related to the ignition switch (current bleeding over from the #15 terminal on the switch to the #50 or the like), so I pulled the ignition switch altogether, but the problem remained. Haven't had a chance to rip out the aux battery relay yet to confirm that it is the source of the problem. I'm sure a lot of people are going to jump in at this point and tell me to use an isolator or ACR instead. I do like the simplicity of the relay, and even if I wind up replacing it with another solution I'd still like to understand how the aux relay would interact with the ignition circuit, if nothing else for my own edification. Seems to me that they *should* be completely separate.

Anyone else seen something similar to this or have any ideas?

On Tue, Feb 15, 2011 at 3:11 AM, Jay Brown <badkarma@ttlc.net> wrote: > I would definitely try the Hard Start Relay that a few others have advised. > I had a similar situation with my '87 Wolfsburg that lead me to make the > prototoype of the Hard Start Relay that I currently sell.  The main > differences between the relay that I sell vs. the standard WR-1 that has > been around for 30+ years is the fact that I use weather resistant (I > hesistate to call anything electronic waterproof) relays and OEM style > connectors and insulator housings.  Full details can be found here: > https://sites.google.com/site/vanagonheadlightrelays/hard-start-relay > > Jay Brown > '85 Zetec Westfalia > '87 Zetec Wolfsburg > > > > Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:19:30 -0800 > > From: KK AL <kkalnsf@GMAIL.COM> > > Subject: Hot start problem > > After our 87 Syncro gets hot and we turn it off, it won't crank. The dash > > lights up, the fuel pump spins, but not even a click from the starter. We > > replaced the battery, starter and ignition switch. It solved the problem for > > a while but it's happening again. > > Any ideas on what to do next? > > Thanks in advance for any suggestions. >


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