Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 06:40:17 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: No start issue solved with great diagnostic tool found on The
Samba
In-Reply-To: <CA+r=JhpPqyZPcKS4dmgq9y8Fc6FG7jMuBBE9xXdvi0SUgA19OA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
"I want to second this. Mark D's "tool" should be carried in everyones
kit."
Is it equally useful for a 1.9?
--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.
On 04/25/2014 06:22 AM, Larry Alofs wrote:
> 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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