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Date:         Wed, 06 Mar 1996 16:01:03 -0800
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel Houg <daniel.houg@sunny.health.state.mn.us>
Subject:      ARCHIVES:  delayed starters

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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========================================================================= Date: Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com> From: Subject:

this is a post from way back in 1994... back when i thought i knew something.

> 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

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========================================================================= Date: Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com> From: Subject:

>From fairwind@northernnet.com Sun Dec 4 17:27:50 1994


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