Date:         Wed, 24 Feb 1999 11:53:54 -0800
Reply-To:     t bill <tbil@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         t bill <tbil@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: [vanagon] Re: ntermitent no start/turnover 85 1.9L
Comments: To: gerry rafferty <gerryr@direct.ca>,
          vanagon@onelist.com, Dave Caston & Sherrie Payne <cdcaston@nni.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

> >Problem:
> >Intermitent no start/turnover on 1.9L 85 GL
> >When key is turned to start engine-nothing happens. No click,
whirrs, or
> >anything.
> >Engine temp: engine warm or cold
> >So far it's not an absolute thing but just every once in a while.
> >After a few more times and it starts.
> >It's going in the shop next week for extensive work-up to get
everything
> >right and would like to have an idea of what to tell ed b.
> >What would you look at in order?

First, replace the switch under the key.  That's easy, and if it works
count yourself lucky.  In my case it didn't.  Your problem looks
identical to mine except that when it wouldn't crank, turning the key
a few more times didn't help.  Then I would have to crawl under and
get a screwdriver on the the solenoid.  Engine would start, and, of
course, everything would work fine when I got it to the mechanic.
One mechanic put a little 'booster' box on it that seemed to help for
a while.  The next time it returned, I told him to fix it or hook up a
starter button directly to the solenoid, which is what he did.  These
days the key almost never works.  The button works just fine and is
hidden, so it acts as theft deterent too!
Watch out.  Most mechanics will try to sell you a new starter, telling
you about 'dead spots' on the armature.  Sounds reasonable, but
doesn't explain why it will start with the screwdriver on the solenoid
trick.

TBill
83.5 Westy
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