Hello, Listees:

Hope this isn't to simple of a question for the list:

Have had no starting issues in 5 years with our '87 Westy, "Joe's
Van".  Last weekend,  I drove it on the weekend around town all day
and left the radio on after parking it in the barn.  Dead, naturally,
so I trickle charged the battery (5 Year old battery) and it popped
right off, started all day.    This weekend, we took it down to Potato
Creek State park this weekend (again, no problems) and this morning,
temps dipped to the 20's at night and everything was frosted when we
woke up.  Really wet out.   Went to fire it it up and turned over
maybe 1.5X, then, nothing.  The dash lights come on and you can hear
the fuel pump buzzing, but no crank.

I tried to jump start off another vehicle, but again nothing.  The
battery light on the kitchen shows green and all the lights seem
bright.  Got under and banged on the starter and solenoid to no avail.

Had it flatbedded home (Thanks, AAA) and it's back in the barn.  Can
the starter or solenoid go out from one start to the next?  Do I not
have enough cranking power?   I found a similar related issues
slogging thru the archive.  I pasted it below.  Looking the Muir right
now for any hints.

Thanks for any info!

Pete
'79 Westy "Aardvark"
'87 Westy "Joe's Van"
'02 Audi A6 Avant
WWW. Busesbythebeach.com

Date:         Thu, 20 Apr 1995 11:58:16 -0700 (PDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Tobin T. Copley" <tobin@freenet.vancouver.bc.ca>
Subject:      Re: New starter?+wierd noise (help!)

On Thu, 20 Apr 1995, Eugene C. Palmer wrote:

> > I know that sometimes, if your van won't start, (as in nothing at all
> >happens when you turn the key) you can bang on the
> >starter and solenoid a bit, and get it to start. This usually happens
> >when parked on hills. My question is, since this is happening, is a new
> >starter in order?  [snip]
> >
> You could try crossing the selenoid and B+ terminals with a screwdriver to
> be sure it isn't some other gremlin.  The parked on hills thing makes me
> think there is something loose, either the engine mounts, trans mounts, or
> starter bolts themselves.

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