Date:         Wed, 9 Dec 2015 07:25:35 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Since we've been talking starters recently on Vanagon list.....
Comments: To: "Vanagons and VW Buses (Bays) with VW inline gas engines"
          <vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines@googlegroups.com>
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I have a starter mystery sound that's been happening since I swapped in my
ABA block hybrid inline VW motor about 3yrs ago...I didn't change any of
the wiring from the original 1.8 liter rabbit/Jetta/fox motor  and that one
didn't make this odd noise sometimes when the motor is started...84 van, 93
ABA jetta block with 92 digifant 8 valve head and 5sp manual
transmission....mounted using vanagon diesel stuff....

   Here's the story...when I release the ignition switch after the motor
catches and the starter has done it's job....it does seem to crank over
completely normally...it lets out this strange kinda honking squelch
noise...lasts about 1/4 second and nothing else happens...the van runs
normally and the next time I start it, it may again emit the weird noise
....but sometimes it doesn't make that noise...."Honking Squelch" is the
best I can do for a description....It sounds similar to what a ping pong
ball does when you push it down onto the pingpong table with your
paddle......

   First time I fired it up after my swap, I thought..."crap, I did
something wrong with the starter...gotta remove the motor and see what that
is."....Well, I also forgot the pilot bearing, so I had the motor out again
in a couple of days to install that and a new output shaft seal....and I
could not find any fault with the starter......So I re-installed it all and
again, I still get that strange squelching binding honking noise,
sometimes.....

   I figured, at the time of the second install, with the noise
unchanged........."OK, I am off to the desert anyhow,  for 2 months....If
that starter breaks, I will just bump start till I  get another one and
stick that in........but it's been starting just fine, other than the weird
noise, for over 3yrs now.....

   I thought...."Worn bushing" or something, but I expected that I'd have
problems, PDQ....when a starter makes a noise like that, it can't be
right...

   Anyone care to make a guess as to what might be causing that noise?   I
am just curious now....it has not affected the starting of the van now for
about 65k miles, but it's still there......It is a "Wrong" sound....It
sounds like it shouldn't be there, like it must be hurting
something.....but nothing dire has happened...it just keeps honking along,
starting every time but perhaps 50% of starts I have come with a post
script.....that honk after I let loose of the key and the starter stops
cranking.....with it's frequent sonic comment after a van start.........
   Don Hanson