Date:         Thu, 16 Feb 2023 23:21:24 +0000
Reply-To:     David Boan <dboan@OUTLOOK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Boan <dboan@OUTLOOK.COM>
Subject:      Cold Weather starting
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hello Vanagon Types

I just returned from a short trip to our local mountains to do some snowshoeing. My van is well setup for driving in snow although not a syncro. The challenge I face is not the snow but getting the van to start in sub-zero temps. The other morning at 8 AM it was -10f, and it is not uncommon to be much colder than that. When my starter battery starts to give up I can jump it from my two 100ah house batteries, but it still cranks slowly and took me more than a half hour to get it started.

I am wondering if I would be better off with a gear reduction starter. I read that GoWesty recommends the high output gear reduction starter for operating in sub-zero temps. So, my question is, does anyone have experience with this starter? For those of you in the cold climates, does this seem like a good investment?

Dave B
Boise
'85 Westy