Deja Vu-- The Dreaded Delayed Start. I fought this worthy adversary, nearly lost my mind but emerged victorious. Scenario: Cold, morning, turn key and if you're lucky it starts after a perplexing (1-2-3 second) wait. Maybe no start. Get out. Crawl under van and rap starter once with hammer, ahhhhhh. cranking now. One comment, the cranking is getting very weak despite a new Interstate (TM) battery. My delayed start (and weak crank) eventually turned into no start (unless the hammer rap, my wife got adept at delivering strategic blow too). I removed the starter and 'went thru it' and thought I solved the problem by polishing up a somewhat sticky/corroded solenoid. Replace starter expecting the world but got slapped with no change. Remove starter, order new solenoid assembly and replace. No change. Remove starter, take to my favorite auto electric guy and have him 'rebuild' it. Replace starter, no change. Add an additional big-ass welding cable to the existing one and clean all negative grounds. No change. Many desperate calls to rebuilder, lots of advice and vain searches in the ignition switch, wiring, etc. Remove starter, take back to favorite guy and he 'goes thru it' again. Everything tests fine tho he says. Replace starter, no change. BTW I'm getting VERY good and pulling this sucker off now. Check all appropriate voltage drops and fix up a few bad connections. With me at my wits end my rebuilder says I've been thru the mill enough and that some-times a problem just can't be found while its on the bench. He orders a new Bosch unit from the dealer and gives it to me (yes, I said gives as in free) stating he'd rather keep me as a customer and have me speak well of himbut he's a good guy with a family to feed so I pay half. Replace with new unit and everything has been fine for over 2 years now. BTW, if you live in cold climes, I highly recommend adding to your existing starter cable with an additional one. I can't remember the guage of welding cable I added but in retaining the existing one and adding the monster I effectively tripled the OE diameter. The van just simply cranks and starts at all temps including sub -30 F mornings. A fresh battery helps too and maybe I bought a bill of goods with the Interstate but it sure works. Dan Houg -- '85 Weekender Daniel Houg Minnesota Department of Health Internet Address: fairwind@northernnet.com Fax #: 218/755-3823
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