Again, a temporary fix is adding the John Muir/Gene Berg styled auxillary
Solenoid,especially if a rap with a hammer seems to get the starter going
again.  I did that with my 90 GL 3 years ago and still run the same
original starter.  Eventually, my day will come, though

dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel

At 10:59 AM 8/11/2003 -0400, Johnson, Dean G wrote:
>Yes high heat will affect the starter. Its dying man.
>Does the solenoid engage?  It could be your solenoid if
>it doesn't push out the starter gear.  I don't know if
>these are available separately.  Either way replacement
>is the only cure.  Sometime the starter will stop working
>at normal temps.  I was implying that you could look
>elsewhere for other faults, but that essentially the
>fault is with the Starter/Solenoid.  (I forgot to mention
>the solenoid at first I know)
>
>Another band-aid is to put a heat shied on your starter.
>Keep it from getting hot.  This may get you down the
>road for quite a bit longer.
>
>But having to hit your starter is a classic symptom of
>failing part.  I've experienced this on my beetles as
>well as my long-dead Cavalier.
>
>Dean
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Shawn.Luft@Completions.Bombardier.com
> > [mailto:Shawn.Luft@Completions.Bombardier.com]
> > Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 10:36 AM
> > To: Johnson, Dean G
> > Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> > Subject: RE: Starter doesn't work on long trips
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hmm, you see I doubt it's a lack of current because the
> > starter works 99.9%
> > of the time.. however when I drive for 3-4 hours or more then
> > it doesn't
> > re-start.  Also because it functions perfectly time and time
> > again during
> > 'normal' usage it makes me think it doesn't need replacing.
> >
> > I was thinking that a component was somehow getting affected
> > by high heat,
> > and when I wack the starter with a brick it was somehow freeing up the
> > funny problems.  D'oh.  If it was manual I could let it go, but it's
> > automatic and no starter means no start!
> >
> > Thanks for the suggestions.  I'm still hopnig to find those
> > ghosts however.
> > Uhm is it possible there are brushes on the way out or
> > something similar?
> > I suppose I need to pull it off anyways and take a look but I
> > thought it
> > may be a common problem that people know how to remedy.
> >
> > - Shawn.
> >
> >
> >
> >