Over the years I have come across many starters that just seem to turn very
slow. Even Bosch rebuilds. Real trouble shooting requires both a voltage and
current meter to see what is going on. If you are getting 10.5 volts at the
starter while cranking you can be sure you have a bad or mechanically
binding starter. If the voltage goes below that the amp reading will tell
you if the starter is drawing too much current or the battery-cables cannot
keep up.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Clarkson
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 10:13 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: was no start-my problem is intermittant sluggish starting

 I have a 90 Wetfalia with a manual transmission. I have never had the exact
no start problem that others are referring to but do have an intermittent
slow turning starter as though the battery is weak. I have repeatedly
checked the battery and it checks out okay. I have even had this problem
when the battery was brand new. The starter has been rebuilt and all the
grounds are in great shape. I go over the ground connections all around the
engine compartment regularly. It seems that I heard someone speak of a
similar problem that involved something, I guess in the casing, of the
starter being ovaled out. I am not sure how I might look this up in the
archives. I'm sure that the starter rebuilder, although very reputable, may
not have noticed a very slight irregularity such as this. Has anyone had a
similar issue when starting? I can have the sluggish start symptom and then
shut the engine off and restart and everything turns at a normal speed.
Thanks list.

David Clarkson
90 Westfalia?