Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 15:55:28 -0400
Reply-To: Gabriel Hourtouat <ghourtouat@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gabriel Hourtouat <ghourtouat@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Starting system quirk - diagnosis help needed
In-Reply-To: <009001cf2b22$a78753a0$f695fae0$@net>
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Hi David,
Did you resolve the quirky starter?
(I am experiencing the same quirkiness on my manual transmission 86 Westy.
My work-around is to park on a hill -- just in case -- or revert to the
push-run-jump-and-bump-start when no hills are available. Although the
kids think this method is preferable to simply turning the key, it leaves
my 98 lb, non-mechanical wife at a loss; therefore, I should get pro-active
and fix this, right?)
Thanks,
Gabby
On Sun, Feb 16, 2014 at 9:23 AM, David <okdavid5555@cox.net> wrote:
> Thank you, list members, for all the advice about my quirky starter. Looks
> like replacing the ignition switch is my first priority, and then maybe
> repair or replace the starter. I appreciate all the suggestions and help
> very much!
>
> David S.
> Oklahoma City
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> David
> Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2014 3:20 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Starting system quirk - diagnosis help needed
>
> 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
>
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