Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2013 21:33:24 -0400
Reply-To: Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@FRONTIER.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@FRONTIER.COM>
Subject: Re: Starting problem or startER problem
In-Reply-To: <CAJRLdXaWd=qrB6y0-HtwnG_qfHgzdm7j+vk0476sacqo-tjo8Q@mail.g
mail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Hi TJ
sorry if I repeat things you may have already done, But In my years
of dinking around with air cooled VWs and the Water vans, I have
found a few things that Might help. Clean the area where the Starter
meets the bell housing for grounding the starter, Also the slip on
connector to the Spade on the solenoid mush grab on real tight. Make
sure the cables to the starter are shiny as a rain deers nose. I have
also run a ground cable to the starter Bolt just to increase the
grounding. As well as the battery terminals on the battery clean the
connections for the cable and ends as well as battery and the battery
ground in the box.
I also did have an issue once or actually a few times, the connector
to the actual switch, But this was on early splits. We did run a new
wire since the resistance in the wire was a bit to much. Not sure if
any of this will help.
Good luck.
Jonce
>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
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