Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:52:04 -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: Start problems need help on the road
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I thought that 'feels like need to turn key further than usual' was a
significant hint.
and ....that points to the electrical part of the ignition switch.
that part is -
1. small, light, and fairly inexpensive, therefore one should always carry
a spare.
2. they are underbuilt and are a common failure item.
3. it's very easy to remove the lower steering column cover, pull the
connector plug of the ignition switch that's currently in use, and plug
your spare onto that connector plug, then operate the new switch with a
screwdriver, until you can find time to remove the steering wheel and
replace the part correctly.
A remote starter switch is an extremely useful tool. I don't even drive my
vans in town without my bag of electrical testing stuff, which includes a
Remote Starter Switch.
- such a useful tool for self-rescue and diagnosing failure issues ..
and these are 25 year old 'just Volkswagens'..... ... super important
simple tool to always have on board.
I hope that's it, and it's a very easy, and common fix.
Actually ..come to think of it ..since this is such a common failure item .
as long as we can get a decent quality ignition switch, they should just be
replaced every 10 years or 100,000 miles. It's a very common, and simple,
failure item.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Rowsell" <86westy@GEOEXPLOITS.ORG>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 7:00 AM
Subject: Re: Start problems need help on the road
> Go-Westy has a good "no-crank" troubleshooting article...
> See http://gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=924
> Sometimes, the spade connector going to the #50 terminal on the starter
> wears loose. If it won't crank, "wiggling" this connector can help. I
> could
> reach mine through the engine hatch...
>
> Tom
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 14, 2011 at 10:01 AM, Bill Shawley
> <easywind1975@hotmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Well 400 miles from and I go to start van (86 2wd 2.1) and it doesn't
>> turn
>> over, just a click on the relays. I try multiple times and nothing. I
>> decide push start to get going and stop at a shop in Columbia sc, wife
>> gets
>> into drivers seat and I'm buckling the kid in
>> I tell her to try to start it and voila it starts. She said she had to
>> turn the key what seemed to be really far.
>>
>> We are on the road but this makes every stop nerve wracking now. Is
>> there
>> a troubleshooting procedure for the switch and is there a way to hotwire
>> if
>> it gets to that. I'd hit the archives but it is really difficult from a
>> phone. We are en route to live oak fl, right now we are on I 77 in
>> south
>> Carolina (9am). Thanks for any and all help.
>>
>>
>> Ryan
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone