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Date:   Fri, 25 Apr 2014 09:22:04 -0400
Reply-To:   Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:   Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:   Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:   Re: No start issue solved with great diagnostic tool found on The Samba
In-Reply-To:   <3B0E9A54-D558-45EB-A9F0-76FB6C36236E@kippert.com>
Content-Type:   text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I want to second this. Mark D's "tool" should be carried in everyones kit. I built one last summer after I bought a non-running parts van. According to the PO, it had a rebuilt engine but "something screwed up electrically. We couldn't get it started." With this basic harness and a remote starter switch I got it going and verified that the engine and transmission are usable to transplant into a Westy that needs them. I made one modification to the design. I skipped the long wire from the battery and just used a shorter lead with an alligator clip to hook to the positive terminal on the alternator. I figured that a fault between there and the battery would be easy enough to detect and fix. Maybe crazyvwvanman will let me know why this was not a good idea. :-)

Larry A.

On Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 12:00 AM, Mark A Kippert <vanagon@kippert.com>wrote:

> Just wanted to take a minute a post about a great diagnostic tool I > discovered on The Samba a few years ago. I've probably posted about it > before but it's worth mentioning again. > > < > http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=349429&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 > > > > While driving home one day my van started bucking and jerking like someone > was toggling a switch. I barely made it home. Soon after my van refused to > start at all. The starter cranked just fine but nothing from the engine. > > At this point I did what most people do, pop the hood, or engine cover in > this case, and stare mindlessly at the engine hoping the solution would > just pop into my head, which, it kinda did. I remembered about a year > before building this diagnostic tool for another no-start issue. So I > hooked it up, per instructions, and vroom, the engine purred to life! At > that point I started disconnecting the three leads one at a time (again, > following instructions). > > First lead I removed was to the coil. Fired right up. Second was the lead > to the ECU relay. Nothing. Cool, we're getting somewhere! Hooked it back up > and disconnected the lead to the fuel pump. Fired right up. So, I > determined that the issue lies with the wiring related to the ECU relay. > > After consulting the Bentley wiring diagram (ouch, my brain hurts) I > determine what wires go where. First I probe the hot lead (red wire, always > hot) going to the relay. It's hot as it should be. Next I check the black > lead that activates the relay when the key is turned on. Nothing. According > to Bentley, this wire comes from the coil. I start probing the wire at > several points. Nothing. I determined that the connection at the coil is > hot (with key on) so it has to be the push-on connector itself. I break > away the plastic shield from the connector and find it to be green and > corroded. Not too surprising on an old Vanagon. I snip the old connector > off and crimp on a new one. Vrooooom, the engine comes to life! Sweet! > > The credit for this great tool goes to crazyvwvanman (Mark) on The Samba. > Thanks! > > Mark K > 1986 GL/2WD/4SPD "Abe" > 1991 GL/2WD/4SPD "project" >


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