At 11:33 5/15/2000, Edward Orlando wrote:
>Is this a clear cut case of a bad starter?

By no means.  You're going to have to do some tracking down.  First place
to look is at the starter itself -- run your hand forward over the top of
the bell-housing and feel to the right.  You should feel the rounded lump
of the solenoid on top of the starter.  Feel around at the forward end and
you should find a double spade connector with a wire plugged into one of
the lugs.  If the wire is missing, find it and put it back on.  If it's
*not* missing, get a mechanic's remote starter switch or make up a wire
with a female spade connector on one end.  Either way, connect to the
second lug on the connector, and bring the other end out.  *STOP HERE* and
check that you're out of gear.  Then connect the switch or tough the wire
to the battery terminal on the alternator.  When you close the connection,
if the starter spins you have a wiring problem and need to chase that
further.  If it doesn't spin, the starter is presumably bad and needs
repair (cleaning inside solenoid for example) or replacement.

This should get you...ahem...started in the right direction.

david
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"