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Date:         Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:02:23 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Question about hard start relay
Comments: To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <11D9CE6D-368B-4504-8B5E-73FCC65B99E6@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Kostal is reputed to be the best. I am hoping that my bad one was an anomaly. After putting I three Meyle switches in less than three months about five years ago, I buy only Kostal. They tend to be out of stock as the demand is high. I have gotten them at Bus Depot and other places that are not the usual lost vendors. They are hard enough to get at times that I ordered two and now am glad I did. I will search for more.

These Kostal switches are the ones with black and white housings, not just white, and you can see where the VW identification has been ground off of the mold. Time to hunt for some more.

Jim

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 21, 2021, at 6:43 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote: > > Oh boy, > > I just installed my spare recently and need to get another spare, Any tips on where to get one that has a good chance of working? > > Brand? > > Eric Caron > > > >> On Jun 21, 2021, at 7:20 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM> wrote: >> >> Today my Vanagon didn’t want to start. Nothing at all when I turned the key. I thought it might be the starter relay but it wasn’t. It was the brand new Kostal switch I ordered as a spare a while back. No good. Fortunately I ordered two. I installed the second one today and it starts reliably now. >> >> Jim >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>>> On Jun 21, 2021, at 9:51 AM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>  >>> I have put Jay Brown's hard start relay kits on all my vans and also the headlight relays. never have had a lick of trouble with any. One handy thing is with the cover removed the hard start relay can be used to start the engine when one is working back there. Beats having to have a remote start switch. >>> >>>> On Mon, Jun 21, 2021 at 9:37 AM Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> I reinstalled my Jay Brown relay, new Kostal switch and then cleaned all grounds between the battery and the transmission mount. We’ll see how that goes, it certainly can’t hurt. As for the observation that the relay is another point of failure, I have experience more failure from the original wiring over the lives of the multiple vans I have driven than I would ever expect from a quality relay. And like everything else I do on my cars, the modification is easily reversible if needed. >>>> >>>> Jim >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>>> On Jun 20, 2021, at 3:58 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>  I still have the hard start relay kit in plastic bag, and a spare Ignition Switch. I carry both; they are small. Should the need arise someday on some distant roadtrip, I am prepared. For now, Karl's adapter plate and the recommended Bosch starter motor are the bomb. Solid. Very impressive. >>>>> >>>>> I do have the Audiovox CCS-100 cruise control. Totally love. Not available anymore. But I love that thing so much, I was able to find one on eBay; currently on shelf in garage; maybe will get utilized somewhere down the road. Insurance if current CCS-100 fails, totally worth it to me. Rock solid performance meanwhile; no tired ankle, instant on and holds speed excellently. >>>>> >>>>> On Saturday, June 19, 2021, 7:29:24 PM PDT, OlRivrRat <olrivrrat@comcast.net> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Personally,, I Am A Huge Fan of JBrowns Relays & in light of the fact that He recommends not using >>>>> >>>>> His HardStart Kit if a GW GearReduction Starter is installed I would Highly Recommend Replacing the GWGRS with >>>>> >>>>> “ commonly available, powerful (1.8~2.0 kw) and reliable starter from the 1996 - 2003 manual-trans VW TDI (diesel) cars “ >>>>> >>>>> Using the Adapter from > http://westyventures.com/parts.html <http://westyventures.com/parts.html> >>>>> >>>>> & This Starter > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C10SN3I?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C10SN3I?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share>

>>>>> >>>>> & JBrowns HardStart/SwitchSaver Relays ~ >>>>> >>>>> The length of time that Current is being be passed through the Igni’ Switch to the Starter is not really the important factor,, >>>>> >>>>> It’s the amount of Current being Conducted by the Contacts & the destruction that happens Each & Every Time that those Switch >>>>> >>>>> Contacts Make Contact ~ Also, in a Low Battery situation, more power can be available for the Starter Motor because Less Power >>>>> >>>>> is needed for the Starter Solenoid due to the Reduced Distance & Cleaner Circuit that that power has to travel ~ >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> " >>>>>> On 19 Jun , 2021, at 6:35 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks. That is exactly why I asked the question. >>>>>> >>>>>> Jim >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Jun 19, 2021, at 4:07 PM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net <mailto:OlRivrRat@comcast.net>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>  From J Browns WebSite > >>>>>>> >>>>>>> “ ** Important installation notes: The hard start relay will not function properly in 1986-1991 Vanagon's with both Automatic Transmission and Factory Cruise Control due to a relay conflict with the cruise control system. If your van only has either an Automatic Transmission or Factory Cruise Control, the relay will function properly. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> It has come to my attention recently that running a hard start relay with the GoWesty Auxiliary Battery Kit or the GoWesty Gear Reduction Starter may result in complications where the starter will continue to spin after releasing the key from the ON position. If you have either of these products installed in your van, the use of the hard start relay is not recommended and must be considered as completely at the risk of the installer. " >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>> >


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