Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2012 01:16:09 -0400
Reply-To: Gab and Em <shoesandbikes@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gab and Em <shoesandbikes@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: No Start Phenomenon - then corrected!
In-Reply-To: <1267603983.1010392.1341975913743.JavaMail.root@sz0094a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net>
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"I walked up to start the engine, reached in through the open door (shifter
at neutral) and turned the key. Nothing. Then again, nothing...[and now]
it started right up."
Skip,
I did, twice, play a similar game. But first, just confirming -- no clutch
micro-switch, right? (IE the starter does not have an interlock on the
clutch, right?)
Personally, I'm not keen on the stuck-clutch theory as you were in neutral
anyways. (The starter motor is strong enough to give the whole van a hard
bump should you try to start it in gear, clutch engaged. Don't try this in
proximity of any other vehicles!) On the other hand, maybe I just don't
understand.
Double your fun:
Try repeating the no-start procedure (IE. try reaching in through the
window to start it in neutral with the clutch engaged.) Then go from there.
In a previous van (a grey, 1990 Westy, widely referred to as "the van,
man"), dating back about 13 years ago now, so details may be iffy:
Flaky starting. Ultimately found that the large wire (6 gauge?) was coming
off the heavy lug that attaches it to the end of the starter. Resolved it
by depending on a low-quality jumper, covered in electrical tape, to make
the connection.
Forgot about it and it lasted until -- get this -- 12:05 AM on Dec 26 just
north of Barrie, Ontario. At that moment, it was blowing tons of heavy,
wet snow. Here is how it went: Gas station attendant locked up and turned
off the lights. Deep darkness and satisfaction filled "the van, man" due
to mother natures' obvious support of my wintry adventure. I reached for
the key and turned it -- nothing. Eerie hush of snow falling -- not even a
click indicating a dead battery or failed starter. Luckily, I remembered
my botched job and was able to fix it (poorly) again in a few minutes with
snow drifting down my neck. It stayed that way for another 100,000 km
until the starter failed, just the month before a road trip from Toronto to
The Gunks (near New York city) with fellow dirt-bag climbers. As it was my
daily commuter, I didn't have time to fix the starter, obviously -- there
was time only for rock-climbing, mountain biking, a bit of work, and tons
of eating garlic, onions and oats. So I bump started it for a month, and a
road trip, and fixed it when I returned. Miss those dirt-bags. Shout-out
to "the van, man", where ever you are. Hope your owners treat you better
than I did. I'm sorry, van.
Gabby
'86 Westy (Miss Betty)
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