In a message dated 9/2/01 8:12:22 PM, vannman99@YAHOO.COM writes:

<< Thinking about just buying a new one  >>

jg,

Don't do it.  Come on now, after what you have just been through, you easily
can do anything else.  Seriously, if you go with a new, as in NEW, starter
that is great.  A rebuild has an element of risk attached to it.  Although I
have no way of gauging the veracity of his contention, a VW parts specialist
with over 30 years in the business told me that the quality of Bosch rebuilt
starters and alternators has declined drastically in the last couple of
years.  He claimed that he has never before seen such a rash of failing
rebuilt components.  He said the warranty does little to assuage the chagrin
of the poor soul who has to get beat up a second time climbing under his car
or that of the guy trying to please a customer.

I forgot to ask, did you remove the starter because of an intermittent
no-start problem or was it totally dead?
Rich