Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2014 15:36:42 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Starting system quirk - diagnosis help needed
In-Reply-To: <SlLs1n00M08X5Fr01lLur8>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
David, I can't help on the diagnosis. However, if you decide to take it to a shop, I can tell you that Darrell Cook (Darrell's Hobby Shop) or Bavarian Auto Haus, both in Norman, and both listed on the list of repair shops on Roadhaus, are excellent. You may have to wait for an opening at either place, as they are both overwhelmed with demand, and are small (Darrell's is a one man operation, Bavarian Auto Haus only has a couple of mechanics), but the wait is worth it. I have never dealt with a mechanic who was both so good at what he does, and so thorough and helpful to customers as Darrell. His prices are quite reasonable, too.
I cannot recommend Larry's, or any other shop of those listed, and I have tried several of them including Larry's.
mcneely
---- David <okdavid5555@COX.NET> wrote:
> Hello Vanagon listers. I've been a list member for quite a while, but have
> contributed infrequently, only when I think I might be able to actually add
> something worthwhile to a discussion. I've never asked a question about my
> own Vanagon, but now I'd appreciate some help.
>
>
>
> I've got a stock '91 Carat, automatic trans, with 145K miles (60K put on by
> me). I've experienced this issue a number of times over the past six months
> or so, and it was never a problem until about a month ago when I thought it
> was going to strand me.
>
>
>
> Here's the symptom: When turning the ignition key to the "start" position,
> every once in a while, there is a very brief period of nothing happening,
> ranging from a split-second to maybe a half-second. Continuing to hold the
> key in the start position, the starter kicks in and the engine starts as
> normal.
>
>
>
> I emphasize that this happens infrequently, and when it does, the period of
> time before the starter kicks in is usually almost imperceptible, but it's
> enough of a delay that you're aware of it happening. There does not appear
> to be a correlation between outside air temp or whether the engine is warm
> or cold.
>
>
>
> About a month ago, when I was 100 miles from home, I turned the key to the
> start position and nothing happened. Nothing. The usual dash warning lights
> lit up when the switch passed through the "run" position, and when in the
> start position, nothing happened. There was no dimming of the warning
> lights; no sound (like a click, for instance) at all. No indication that a
> load was being placed on the electrical system. The no-sound and
> no-light-dimming seemed very odd to me. I repeated the
> turn-off-try-to-start-again sequence several times, which yielded no change.
> Then I got the idea that maybe the neutral safety switch was the problem, so
> I moved the gear selector from "P" to "N" and tried again - several times -
> with the same result. I even rapidly moved the gear selector back and forth
> from "P" to "1" several times, thinking I would "clear" or shake loose (?)
> the contact mechanism. This resulted in no change when trying to start in
> either "P" and "N."
>
>
>
> Frustrated, I got out of the van and walked around it in dismay. I even
> looked on the ground under the engine - as if I'd find some part had dropped
> on the ground or was hanging loose (isn't looking at and underneath the
> engine what we're "supposed to do" when something's wrong? J )
>
>
>
> After about 10 minutes of being thoroughly upset and confused, I crawled
> back in the driver's seat figuring I was going to have to call a wrecker. I
> decided to give it one last try before grabbing the cell phone, and to my
> amazement, it started right up, without any perceived delay.
>
>
>
> It has started perfectly since then, however, the infrequent, very brief
> delay episodes have continued.
>
>
>
> I would appreciate any advice on diagnosing where the problem may lay.
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> David S.
>
> Oklahoma City
--
David McNeely
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