Oh, I definitely agree.  Even if it wasn't the problem, it's good I
cleaned my grounds.  And I think I can change a vanagon starter in under
10 minutes now, including the bushing!

-Wes

Robert Fisher wrote:
> I know it was a PITA for you, but I'd consider it a positive
> experience, all
> things considered: You know a lot more about your van, you did some
> maintenance-type items that probably needed to be done anyway, and the
> archives now have a fairly exhaustive thread on the subject if there
> wasn't
> one before. Plus the rest of us all got an education.  I can't wait for
> something else to break down on your van!
>
> Just kidding. : )
>
> Cya,
> Robert
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wesley Pegden" <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 4:15 PM
> Subject: Re: recap (still not fixed) Re: Update (not fixed...) Re: FIXED?
> (and, advice needed...) (was: Re: low voltage, starter running
> intermittently, but alternator is okay?)
>
>
>> The end of this just happened 5 minutes ago.  My replacement starter had
>> been bad, and my new one just arrived.  I put it in, and now it starts
>> right way every time.  I'm happy to be done with this!
>>
>> In any case, my extensive (though possibly superfluous) electrical
>> debugging has made me interested in installing a permanent volt-meter in
>> the van... I'll post about that separately.
>>
>> Thanks again to everybody who helped (and kudos to those who told me to
>> suspect the replacement starter)
>> -Wes
>> '84 manual
>>
>> Robert Fisher wrote:
>>> Did I miss the end of this? What happened?
>>>
>>> Cya,
>>> Robert
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Wesley Pegden" <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 10:53 AM
>>> Subject: Re: recap (still not fixed) Re: Update (not fixed...) Re:
>>> FIXED?
>>> (and, advice needed...) (was: Re: low voltage, starter running
>>> intermittently, but alternator is okay?)
>>>
>>>
>>>> Again, thanks for the replies guys... I'll get this fixed
>>>> eventually.  I
>>>> just went out and put a voltmeter on the back of the starter (well
>>>> solenoid, actually) on the post where current is supplied (on mine I
>>>> have two wires on this post?).  Anyways, With everything off, voltage
>>>> there is 12.6, basically what it is at the battery.  If I turn the key
>>>> and it fails to start, voltage at the starter is measures
>>>> 11.8-11.9.  Is
>>>> this voltage high enough that I should be suspecting my starter, or
>>>> low
>>>> enough that I should be blaming my connections?  In the meantime, I'm
>>>> going to check this connection, Mike, since I'm out of other ideas.
>>>>
>>>> -Wes
>>>>
>>>> (For those just joining the discussion, the van is an '84 1.9l manual,
>>>> with an intermittent start problem, which seems to be fairly
>>>> unaffected
>>>> by temperature, or for how long it's previously been driven.  Battery
>>>> tests fine at a FLAPS, and I've replaced the alternator, starter,
>>>> starter bushing, and replaced and cleaned the battery and transmission
>>>> grounds.  Engine compartment ground is also new.  Voltage when running
>>>> is 13.8v.)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Mike Frost wrote:
>>>>> On my '86, the big positive wire on the alternator goes to a black
>>>>> plastic
>>>>> junction box mounted on the firewall just above the thermostat
>>>>> housing.
>>>>> Inside the junction box, the wire is bolted to a stud which is the
>>>>> main
>>>>> connection point between the battery and the alternator/starter
>>>>> motor. I
>>>>> found this point to be corroded and the resistance was causing the
>>>>> connection to heat up. This is the most likely spot to cause a big
>>>>> drop
>>>>> in
>>>>> current/voltage going to the engine from the battery. The fact
>>>>> that you
>>>>> only
>>>>> have problems when starting makes it seem likely that the battery
>>>>> does
>>>>> not
>>>>> have a clean path to (or thru) the engine compartment. Once the
>>>>> engine is
>>>>> running, all the current is supplied by the alternator.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 1/27/06, Wesley Pegden <wes@cs.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Today I tried a new ignition switch and changed out the transmission
>>>>>> ground strap.  Neither fixed the problem.  I don't have any ideas
>>>>>> past
>>>>>> the starter at this point.  I also tried jumping the battery, as
>>>>>> some
>>>>>> have suggested my problem might still be a bad battery.  No dice.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -Wes
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Roger Sisler wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ground straps, ignition switch plug,then take your new starter
>>>>>>> to an
>>>>>>> advance auto parts store and have them test it for free.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>