Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 04:57:09 -0500
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Wont start
In-Reply-To: <9xj0nau6gntgljki5p9qoey4.1353890075367@email.android.com>
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At 07:34 PM 11/25/2012, Harry Hoffman wrote:
>flywheel to turn the engine over. Even though the van is now at the
>shop I'd like to know the proper way to state the problem. As the
>way I stated and then tried to clarify it started out confusing and
>the added more confusion on top of it. Cheers, Harry
Hi Harry -
"turn over" is a good one to avoid because some people interpret it
as "rotate" but to others it means "fire up and start."
"Crank" is universally understood as "rotate" (because you used to
actually use a crank to do it) so some would say "it cranks but it
won't turn over." Better to say "cranks but doesn't start."
I'm pretty sure that if you said "The starter runs away" everyone
would understand it as "Starter spins but doesn't engage" but the
second form is unequivocal.
So on a rough continuum, when you turn the key:
a) Nothing happens. Interior lights no change.
b) Interior lights go out.
b) There's a click but lights don't dim abnormally
c) There's a click and lights dim/go out
d) Starter runs away
e) Engine cranks slowly/irregularly, dying, lights dim/go out.
f) Engine cranks slowly/irregularly, continuing, lights dim abnormally.
g) Engine cranks slowly/irregularly, continuing, lights don't dim abnormally
h) Engine cranks normally/vigorously, lights dim normally.
i) Engine cranks abnormally quickly and easily.
j) Engine kicks back against starter.
k) Engine cranks (some form above), "tries to start" i.e. fires
irregularly but won't catch.
l) Engine cranks, starts, stops when key is released.
m) Engine cranks without effect, starts when key is released.
n) Engine cranks, starts with difficulty.
o) Engine cranks, starts normally.
p) Starter doesn't disengage after engine start.
q) LGM surround vehicle and kidnap you to overhead UFO where you
examined, found worthy (of course) and crowned king of LGM. Don't
drink the water.
The three basic areas for hard cranking are:
- not enough supply current (battery, cables, connections including
grounds, starter solenoid contacts, starter internally shorted so it
takes too much current but has reduced output).
- starter mechanical problems (including external pinion bearing on
manual-transmission vans) or internally shorted.
- engine requires too much effort to crank (mechanical problems,
cold, timing advanced too far, starter too small for engine).
Yours,
David
