Classic signs of a shorted starter:  you cooked it by using it to drive the
van around, and now it has lots of shorted turns in the armature so it gets
nice and hot and draws lots of current, but doesn't rotate very well.  This
is the "pay me later" half of the story...sorry.

david

At 08:09 PM 3/25/2001, Michael Edwards wrote:
>fault....when i bought the van, it had a blown engine.  In order to move
>it around in my yard, I drove around by the starter.  Naturally not a
>bright thing to do...but hey..Im lazy.  Anyway....engine replaced, now
>won't start.  I am good with mechanical but absolutely horrible with
>electrical so perhaps someone could point me in the right direction.
>    The starter seems very very very weak...not enough power to do much
> more than slowly turn engine.  The PO had used the hot post to connect a
> variety of wiring to a hot lead.  I disconnected all this stuff
> temporarily and it seemed a little better.  After a moment or so of
> cranking (hoping it might just fire up)the starter was hot enough to fry
> bacon (or sausage) on.  What next.  Should I replace the
> starter?  Replace the cable?  I don''t have a multimeter (and have no

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