When I first started out I would agree with you.  I even, cleaned up a few
solenoids initially myself and told others on the List to do the same.
However, after running those vans for a while, I noticed that the solenoid
clean up fix is not a permanent one.  That within a year, my starters began
to fail again.  Finally, I decided that doing it once, and right was better
than doing it over and over.  It takes less time to remove and replace a
starter once (alot of the people on the list are going to take it somewhere
to get this work done so time is money), than to take off the starter, remove
and clean up the solenoid, and put it back together, and put it back on.
Then it fails when your wife has the kids with her in the Wal-mart parking
lot, in the rain/snow/dark, etc.  Towing bills can be expensive.
Now I just put rebuilt, Bosch starters on my stuff and forget about it for
the next 150k miles.

I don't know about replacing just the solenoid either.  I mean if the
solenoid is tired then what about the brushes, and bushings in the starter?
Next thing you know the thing won't turn over fast enough to start the van.

A real eye opener came when I put a rebuilt Bosch starter on my diesel Jetta.
 It used to hate to start when it was cold.  Now the motor spins over much
faster and starts much easier.  The starter made all the difference in the
world.

Just my 2 cents.  Not a slam or a flame.,
Ken Wilford
http://www.vanagain.com
John 3:16
Office (856)-765-1583
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