Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:59:32 -0500
Reply-To: David Clarkson <dvdclarksn@AOL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Clarkson <dvdclarksn@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: starter turns except when the battery is disconnected but
does not turn engine-solenoid problem?
In-Reply-To: <CA+r=JhqNkpHY8WW6iej-AkD=Zs6qz10-b+sS8NX22uvSRLC7LA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; format=flowed
That's what I'm thinking too Larry. The starter switch was just
preventative replacement maintenance really since 300K is a long life
for that part as I see it. Iproved to myself that wasn't at all
connected to the symptom by unplugging it
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com>
To: David Clarkson <dvdclarksn@aol.com>
Cc: vanagon <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Sent: Mon, Dec 10, 2012 4:08 pm
Subject: Re: starter turns except when the battery is disconnected but
does not turn engine-solenoid problem?
The ignition switch almost certainly has nothing to do with your
problem. It sounds like mostly a mechanical problem with the solenoid
and/or the movement of the starter drive gear on the shaft.
Larry A.
On Mon, Dec 10, 2012 at 3:48 PM, David Clarkson
<dvdclarksn@aol.com> wrote:
Don't know if anyone is still following this thread but my problem
began as an intermittant slow turning of the starter and then I had one
instance where the starter would not disengage after starting until I
revved the engine a bit. The current situation is that when I tried to
start the engine the starter motor would not stop turning until I
disconnected the battery but it never turned over the engine. I ordered
another ignition switch since it
was only about $6 and mine had almost 300K on it (geez according to
Ben's site looks like I'll need to find a steering wheel puller to
replace this part). In the mean time I
disconnected the switch completely and then reconnected the
battery-same problem. I am now thinking that something both mechanical
and or electrical is going on with the solenoid. Any opinions or
similar problems out there? Maybe a problem with the starter
bushings? Oh and this is a 1990 Vanagon with a manual tranny. I am
looking for a solenoid online but have had limited success. Any
suggestions should this be the problem on where I might find a good
solenoid? I might go with the new/rebuilt starter/solenoid I saw on the
samba. The seller says he doesn't know if it is for a manual or auto
but it looks different than the automatic starters listed in the same
section. I hate to be that guy that just starts throwing parts at a
problem but at this point I can't imagine anything else that could have
failed.
It would be just as easy to swap out the entire starter/solenoid
assembly as just changing the solenoid and I would have a spare starter
on hand that I could have rebuilt with new bushings. While I'm in that
neighborhood I'll clean and check all the wiring. I can't imagine
anything simply wiring related after looking at the Bentley that could
be causing this symptom but it would be good preventative maintenance
as well as a good time to check for adequete voltage at the starter.
Any opinions from the been there done that members of the list would be
an early Christmas/Hanukkah/ Kwanza/Festivus gift from you to me.
Thanks everyone.
David Clarkson
90 Westy-can't seem to get the planets to align to get started