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Date:         Sat, 2 Apr 2011 12:03:12 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Update on starter
Comments: To: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8"; reply-type=response

hi .. ditto that . and ... consider the electrical part of the ignition switch .. they wear out 'nicely' ...........and it does not quite fit the symptom of slow cranking, but should always be considered.

for sure work over trans ground strap connection. the 87 has a nice fat battery to starter cable ..so it's probably ok, though to check both ends carefully .. especially the battery end.

for sure check charging voltage to the battery, engine running. you want minimum 13.8 volts there.

Do load test the battery. Under load it should hold up to something like 10.5 volts minimum for 20 seconds or so ... if voltage just dives under a load from a battery load tester ...battery is no good.

if battery is suspect .. with it well charged...then let to sit for a while , like a few hours .. check each cell with a battery hydrometer ....if one cell is significantly less charged than the other ones..that's a bad battery.

the whole system really needs to be checked in all dimensions.. charging voltage at alternator and battery .. all cables and grounds and battery cable clamps etc... all of it. not that hard to do either really.

if the 'starter ring gear' on the torque converter is bad.. usually the symptom would be noisy starter operation or intermittent engagement of the starter drive gear .. and when those teeth are really bad .. they'll eat out the drive gear teeth of a new starter on a regular basis .. but it's not too likely you have that going on. they 'should' eyeball the starter ring gear teeth when they have the starter out.

Scott www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Wilford" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2011 5:06 AM Subject: Re: Update on starter

> Chris, not sure what the ring gear on the torque converter has to do > with the starter turning over slow. More likely is some type of > electrical problem. Either a bad ground strap on the transmission (at > nose of trans to frame) or the wiring from the battery to the starter is > getting degraded. Of course there always is a chance that you have > gotten a few crappy Autozone starters in a row, but it is highly unlikely. > > Has anyone tested the battery yet? That is one of the first things I do > to be sure it is up to snuff. Let me know if I can help you further. > > Ken Wilford > John 3:16 > www.vanagain.com > > > On 4/2/2011 3:32 AM, C Snyder wrote: >> This ia an upae on some problems I've been having with the starter on my >> 1987 Wolfburg with 2-wd and gas engine. >> >> I had the starter checked out about a week ago and they put a new starter >> in after the one thats been in the car since before I bought it in 2001. >> The starter would not hardly turn the engine over so I took it to the >> place here in Springfield, MO that the list members here sait the shop as >> good. >> >> Anyway, I took it back cause the rebuilt on tat they bought at Auto zone >> was doing the same as the old one, it turns the enging over very slowly >> if at all some times. I hve to let go of the key then, try it again until >> it does start. not fun lol. >> >> Yesterday, they replaced the starter with a rebuilt one they got from >> Auto zone ( am not a real big fan of Auto zone.) So after the put the new >> starter in, the same thing happens,,, it doesen't have enough power to >> turn the engine over. Adding a jump box to the mix seems too help a >> litle. >> >> The tog mechinit toled me that the torque converter has to be replacedbe >> cause the theth have "Flatened-our" from old age and you can't buy just >> the ring gear as he said that it's weldered on to the trannie and they >> cost like $100.00 . >> >> After leaving the garage, I stoped off at a gas station and after >> filliing the tank (which almost gave me a heart-attack for the price of a >> gallon of gas. >> >> When I tried to start the car to leave the gas station it was worse then >> ever and I was beginng to wonder if I was going to have to get it towed >> by to the shop I had just left from. >> >> Hope some of our versed Vanagon people here can share some light on this. >> >> Chris >>


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