Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2020 08:36:56 -0400
Reply-To: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: So stuff even happens to me!
In-Reply-To: <F95EBBE6-B24A-427B-B14D-6ACE3E92146B@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
For the Automatic Vanagon, the neutral safety switch can be touchy. I
can't count the times that customers call me in a panic about the fact that
the van won't start. Is it an automatic? If so is the starter even
turning at all. If not, shake the shifter from side to side while holding
the key in the start position. Your van just started? You are welcome.
Ken
On Fri, Apr 3, 2020 at 9:35 PM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> You find that neutral safety switch on the shifter to be less than stellar?
>
> Only one I’ve worked on for a friend was, maybe someone was in there
> before, a bit janky.
>
> I seem to recall the white plastic brittle.
>
> Alistair
>
> > On Apr 3, 2020, at 6:32 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > I checked the history on this van. It had a starter fail and was
> Repalced with a Bosch SR25X March 2017. Towed in June of 2017 which is when
> this GW starter was installed at 228K miles. Being an automatic I know that
> voltage drops to the solenoid can be a problem although the GW starters
> usually aren’t that fussy. I’ll check the switches including the neutral
> safety and see what I find. It just took me by surprise. I acquired this
> van last April, at 248K, now at 266K and 3 NY to Florida trips. This is the
> first glitch that just picked a bad day to tick me off!
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> >
> > From: Alistair Bell [mailto:albell@shaw.ca]
> > Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 8:57 PM
> > To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> > Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> > Subject: Re: So stuff even happens to me!
> >
> > Oh i like the pigtails.
> >
> > I had the solenoid trigger were come off, on a trip. We had stopped at
> head of small spur which we explored by foot. Van wouldn’t start on return.
> Was a level spur and wife, son, and myself managed to push start. We then
> drove up onto another spur , high to allow rolling down hill start, to
> camp. Next day I managed, with long pliers etc, and cutting my knuckles, to
> get wire on via engine compartment.
> >
> > https://shufti.blog/2010/09/08/end-of-august-trip/
> >
> > I have re done that connection since.
> >
> > Dennis, are you going to pull starter this weekend?
> >
> > Alistair
> >
> >
> > On Apr 3, 2020, at 2:36 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Yes!
> > Better yet, since the solenoid connection is a failure point of its own,
> the GW starter features an attached pigtail with 2 connectors on it. This
> is for the vans where a separate wire was at the solenoid for the ECU start
> signal. Anyway, the wire and connector(s) can now stay in the engine
> compartment. Made it easy to uncover the spare and use that to jump it.
> >
> > Of course now I need to some diagnostics and a fix.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Alistair Bell [mailto:albell@shaw.ca]
> > Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 5:24 PM
> > To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> > Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> > Subject: Re: So stuff even happens to me!
> >
> > 91 is the 2wd right. Easier to get to the solenoid , in the field, than
> the Syncro, right?
> >
> > Alistair
> >
> >
> > On Apr 3, 2020, at 2:16 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > So today I drove the 91 to get groceries. Went to a store ~ 4 miles
> from home. Drove there no problem. Do my shopping. Get in the van, turn the
> key no start. No cranking at all.
> >
> > So it a bit cool rainy and nasty out. After getting my lack of patience
> when stuff don't work figured lets see what happened.
> > So at first though is battery dead! I have one of those USB sockets wit
> voltmeter. 12.5 volts. Turn key, warning lights on, turn key to start, dim
> slightly. Ried with gear shift not in park or neutral, no change, so in
> park the dimming tells me we are trying to energize the solenoid.
> >
> > So go in back. Who put all the groceries on top of the engine? Yea, move
> all the stuff. Get rid of the mattress and rug, lift the cover watch it
> fall, lift again and move it so it stays up. Anyway, look for anything
> wrong, nothing. So thinking just a case of maybe solenoid sticking or
> excessive voltage drop. So get tool box. Piece of wire. This is a GoWesty
> starter so there is an unused terminal on the solenoid harness. So make
> jumper and connect from terminal back of alternator to solenoid. It cranks.
> Go back up front, turn on ignition, go back, use jumper to start and on my
> way.
> >
> > Get home, try with key and its works as it should! Go figure.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
>
--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
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