Date:         Fri, 11 Oct 2013 20:37:50 -0500
Reply-To:     JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Runaway Starter - Part II
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

As reported earlier - a runaway started condition parked my van for me.
It was  night, and I couldn't do anything except pull the battery to
stop the starter.

Ordinarily, I would have fixed this myself - but this was one of those
occasions where you just bite the bullet and hire the repair done in a
shop. Got a Triple A tow to a garage. Starter was pulled, and after
checking and testing test - it was declared DOA! Per Dennis Haynes
recommendation regarding such solemn occasions - I went for a
remanufactured starter.  Being as I had a Jay Brown Hard Start kit
installed, there was a bit of concern about the relay going bad and
creating the problem. Jay was all over it. I didn't have any idea and he
told me what to check. Said it had never happened before but being an
electrical item - it's always just around the corner  - so to speak.
Turns out it was not the Hard Start System, but the starter itself. When
the new starter was in, it worked perfect with the hard start relay. BTW
- this starter that failed had been rebuilt once locally already.

So there you have it - start to finish, the Alpha and Omega of it, the
beginning and the end.

BTW - you might check out Jay Brown's different relay systems. I think
he is on The Samba.  I have one of each of his kits on each of my three
van.  Never had any problems. Very high quality components. Headlight
relay kits, Hard start Relay kits, Remote Start kits  for when you are
working on the van with no helper.

Good stuff.

John