Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 21:05:26 -0400
Reply-To: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Intermintant No Start
In-Reply-To: <45FC808B.9040603@gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Welcome back, Kevin.
I've heard that a number of folks (those who have converted to Subaru)
ended up going back to Bosch starters after trying the gear reduction
ones. But ... lets look at other possibilities first.
I once had an intermittent starter problem that was completely cured by
super cleaning all mating surfaces of everything electrical involved.
You might want to replace the female spade on the wire that runs from
the ignition switch to the starter solenoid and make sure the male on
the solenoid is squeaky clean.
Remove and clean the mating surfaces for the ground strap between the
transmission and the body.
Remove and clean the mating surfaces of the wire from the battery to the
starter.
A good idea is to add another ground strap from the starter mount to the
frame.
On my '85 Westy, I have added a remote starter button in the engine bay.
Electrically, it's the same as a WR-1 hot start relay but, of course,
it's manually operated. I put it there so I could more easily do
routine maintenance tasks like compression tests (don't have to disable
the spark if I don't turn on the ignition) and fuel injector tests and
the like. It also serves to eliminate the ignition switch and the wire
run from forward should I have a "No turning" starter situation. Should
you ever decide to install one of these ... PLEASE ... make sure the van
is not in gear before hitting the button.
Do let us know what fixes the problem.
Mike
'84 GL 7 pass
'84 GL Westy
'85 GL Westy
Kevin Carrubba wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> Back on the list after a couple year break. Anyway I'm having a strange
> no start issue on my 87 westy with a 1990 subie 2.2. I think the
> problem is vw and not the subie but I'm stumped so thought someone here
> might have an idea. It started off a couple months ago like the starter
> was going so I replaced it with one of the gowesty gear reduction
> starters as I have already put a couple starters in this van. Then a
> couple weeks later it would not start - I could here the fuel pump
> engage but no starter so I replaced the ignition switch as I know that
> is a common item and it was fairly inexpensive. Now today I was out
> running around and after it had been shut off for a couple hours it
> would not start. So I hop out check the engine ground and battery
> cables all looked fine, so I just fiddled with the key for a while on
> off type of thing and then boom it starts right up and now is fine
> again. Anyone have any ideas?
>
> Thanks
> Kevin
> 87 Westy > EJ22
>
