Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:57:03 -0800
Reply-To: Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: GoWesty's Gear Reduction Starter
In-Reply-To: <BAY152-ds11766380287CBD25A4051FA0C50@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Our esteemed membership mentions:
>>>As for starter performance the permanent magnet, gear reduction starters
are
becoming extremely common due to their light weight and low cost.<<<
Not really low system cost, see below.
and
>>>Thank you. I've had the same issues with Bosch rebuilds. One was slow
cranking. The second one has an occasionally sticking solenoid. This on an
automatic with an inline-4 installed at 15 degrees.<<<
I too took the WestyVentures TDI path. Mixed results. To adapt the
adapter to work on a syncro transmission with locking differential requires
quite a bit of grinding and fitting. Clearly explained by Karl and
understood by me. However the TDI starter itself requires some grinding of
the flange to get it to fit. This makes it pretty testy to have Bosch
replace the TDI starter if it fails (two did) Not an inexpensive venture
and a questionable solution at best. Both TDI starters (new by the way)
failed with internal shorts drawing massive amounts of current and
blistering the paint on the starter body all within six months and
5000mi. Why they failed? Yet unknown. But TWO sequential starters failed
this way. The second failure involved the starter failing to STOP when the
start signal was removed (no problem with the ignition key
switch) It continued to spin merrily along (not engaged with the ring gear
as the 'bendix' failed too). Disconnecting the mains at the battery brought
the show to a halt.
Thanks to a liberal application of increasingly rare frogskin lubricant
($$) and the heroic and much-appreciated work of StephansAutoHaus here
in Sacramento the problem was segwayed into installing a SR401X
(remanufactured?? Bosch 'classic') which worked for a few days then became
increasingly difficult to engage and had the deadly slow crank problem.
Made the timid owner fearful of venturing far beyond the reach of tows to
Stephans. Now it must be noted here that NONE of the maladies had anything
to do with the quality of service or repairs at S.A.H. It was all BOSCH
equipment failures. The 401X failure was an
internally malfunctioning "solenoid" right out of the box from
"Peggy". BOSCH Customer service and the kewl little blue
guarantee/warranty thingy in the box is PDW (pretty damn worthless).
Simply an advertising ploy to snare the customer into providing free
quality assurance final testing of their products (Kinda like Microslop and
Service Packs). Repeated calls to BOSCH-offshore (their CS answering folks
in lordy-knows-where, who all seem to named Peggy or something) was
fruitless.
The good news is that SAH once again filled the breech with warranty from
their supplier (WorldPac) and installed the second SR-401X "remanufactured
in Peggy's basement" starter and it works dandily so far. No other
changes to the van at that time. FWIW Bosch Reman is done abroad just
beyond the sunset at BurningVan not in Merkel-land-of-the-Euro as you might
guess.
I actually haven't had the chance to test it all that much as the venerable
van has been pretty much deadlined over the summer with two attempts at
repairing the transaxle by a vendor. The van is of course now resident
camping at SAH while the transaxle is being repaired once again. 11Kmi on
the first repair. Since April of 2008, I have put only ~12K dawdling,
meandering miles on the van, not by choice but shall we say, by
circumstances beyond my control. Been through four, count em four, BOSCH
starters of two types (TDI and 401X) in that mileage time. Snicketted for
sure. Bad Juju? Butt, who nose?
We have spoken before about our venerable road-divas-in-decline and the
cost of entertaining such demanding old ladies, as hardening of the tubes
and entropy robs them of their youthful beauty. Perhaps these are rich
men's follies, expecting things to work out for the best. Wooden sailboats
and airplanes seem cheaper.
With SAH, warranty repair is never a problem. BOSCH and other vendors not
so much. Even the computer-generated BOSCH warranty on the fancy blue
paper is worthless birdcage liner. So my advice is get the estimate in
advance, get a written warranty dated and signed if necessary before
venturing out into the wilderness or even just down the road.
And insofar as "Slow Barley" ( quote below) is concerned, I'm all for slow
and perhaps protracted barley therapy to take the edge off starting the
syncro and the other maintenance problems. I prefer IBU>40 for my barley
therapies.
To wit:
>>> Dennis mentions
As for rebuilds even the Bosch brand is hit or miss. On a recent automatic
it took
three attempts to get a correct, properly working starter.
Did the slow barley crank it thing. Confirmed all circuits and battery OK.
Got another Bosch
SR25X and cranks wonderfully. Slow cranking starters are not normal.
<<<
...see above
Neither are folks like me, who are slow, cranky, persnickety starters, and
prone to barley therapy along the way ...
Pensionerd (shiftless at the moment and Jonesin' for camping)
