Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2013 20:30:30 -0400
Reply-To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Starting problem or startER problem
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All,
Instead of boring you with a long drawn out story (which, I will no doubt
confuse most of you), I'll list the facts:
87 GL Automatic
1. I have a good battery. Two actually. Hooked to a charger while trying
to turn over the engine. Details; One brand new Optima and one used Optima
both read 12v on a meter and hooked in parallel. On top of that, a battery
charger set to 10A setting (EXCEPT while checking leads for voltage on any
circuit) is running from before I start till after I finish.
2. New ignition switch. Details; jumped #30 and # 50 at the switch and
got nothing. OK, I got a hot paperclip but aside from that, nothing but
the *slight* electrical click from the back of the van. Same exact sound I
get with the ignition switch.
3. Neutral safety switch checked good as the times it was actually turning
over with the key, the moment I moved the gear selector out of P or N, it
stopped cranking and it NEVER cranks unless it's in P or N. Ran it through
the entire range repeatedly with no change to either of those facts.
4. All engine grounds were done and today I shined the transmission ground
brighter than Rudolph's nose on Christmas eve. It should last me another
26 years. How do I know? Well, it made NO change after I cleaned it with
a wire brush in a drill so even with the same number of years of corrosion
since it rolled off the line, the boys in the factory did it right the
first time so it obviously was not an issue without my cleaning. Didn't
hurt but didn't help either.
5. I got 12V at the solenoid end of #50 when my helper turned the key to
the start position. No change while I wiggled the daylights out of the
wires. Well, until I got some dirt or stuff in my face from shaking things
so long and hard. No, don't even think about going there or the Mods will
eat you for lunch. :)
6. Starter *will* rotate and engine does start when I jump small terminal
and large terminal on the solenoid with a screwdriver or similar. Every
time and all the time.
7. *Very* seldom, it will rotate and start with the key. In fact today,
ONLY after I bumped it with a screwdriver and I wanted to test something,
it started several times in a row but then after several times, just clicks
and that dumb look on my face.
8. One time tonight, after jumping the ignition switch with the paperclip
(and getting nothing), I put the connection back on the switch and when I
turned the key, it started a few more times (3) and then, again, no more.
9 Bosch rebuilt starter from FLAPS. SAME issue before or after the old
starter came out and this one came in. Starter is about 1.5 years old.
It can't be a hot start issue since it never gets a chance to get hot and
not start. I have one last thought about what it could be but I don't want
to put thoughts in anyone's head.
Anyone got any ideas as to what it might be, what I might have missed or
what I could check now?
Thanks,
TJ