Date:         Tue, 6 Jun 2017 17:01:29 -0700
Reply-To:     Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
Subject:      Re: No Start & Sliding door handle'
In-Reply-To:  <CY1PR20MB0029D464BDF01EDEBFBC72ACA0CB0@CY1PR20MB0029.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

“The dash is lighting up, when i turn the key, it doesn't even try to turn over….”

“New starter in March.” 

Me? I’d look first that the wire from the key switch is attached to the solenoid. Mine has been known to fall off on occasion. Especially after messing with it. “New starter in March.” indicates ‘messed with.'

Handle - Get another one.  There’s one small screw that holds the lock cylinder.  Remove it, exchange lock cylinders, replace it.  All done.




> On Jun 6, 2017, at 3:07 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> There can be a number of reasons for a "no crank" situation on any car. Having a known good battery is the first place to "start"! Part of that is to have a meter and know how to use it to test voltage at the battery and other places while trying to crank it. From remote folks here can suggest many different things to look at but without some knowledge and tools you are simply replacing parts until it runs. So here are some places to start:
> Battery, to know it is good it needs to be load tested. A good auto parts store may have one. Having 12 volts at rest does not mean it will work when you ask it to produce 200 amps. 
> Starter- it is common for the Bosch units to have bad brushes or solenoids making them intermittent. 
> Ignition switch and wiring. Many have added boost relays to get past these problems. If automatic the neutral switch is also suspect. 
> Battery and ground cables. They can look good and not be! Again, testing under load. 
> Horror of horrors! Something wrong with engine. 
> 
> Since it ran before it sat the battery is suspect and so is a used one. Batteries don’t tolerate neglect and letting them discharge and go dead especially in winter will destroy them. If new battery doesn’t do it then consider you may have a bad starter. Was it installed at a shop? Warranty? 
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Laura Mangan
> Sent: Tuesday, June 6, 2017 4:35 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: No Start & Sliding door handle'
> 
> '85 1.9L Vanagon
> Potter Co. North Central PA
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> My van wont start....
> 
> All was well when i last drove it (admittedly, almost a month ago) Now, it wont start. I tried to jump start it, And no luck. took the battery to NAPA, and turns out, one of the cells or something, is fried. Okay.
> 
> So, i have another newish battery, i try that... No luck. Try to jump start with the new battery. Nothing.
> 
> So, i take the battery out, put it on a trickle charger to make sure its charged. Yep. No luck, once again.
> 
> The dash is lighting up, when i turn the key, it doesn't even try to turn over....
> 
> New starter in March.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Also..... My exterior sliding door handle broke off beyond the key hole.
> So, locking mechanism is functional, but i cannot open it from the outside.
> 
> Short of replacing the entire unit (and getting another key) what can i do?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Hopeless and not even a slight bit mechanically inclined,
> 
> Laura