Thanks to all who helped on this issue.  I went ahead and replaced the aux
solenoid, but this time used a 1/4" bolt and nylox nut and bolted one of the
aux flanges to an existing hole not far from my pop rivet holes.  No real
corosion formed on the old one's terminals, so I I guess I'll never know if
it was a loose ground or a bad solenoid.  Bottom line is it's fixed for the
time being.

Max
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Alofs" <lalofs@enteract.com>
To: "Max Wellhouse" <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2001 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: Auxillary Solenoid going Bad?

> Max Wellhouse wrote:
>
> > Listees:  I'm having trouble with occasional(at this point)  malfunction
of
> > my auxillary solenoid kit I installed like 4 years ago.
> >
> > 1. Since I shot aluminum pop rivets to a frame bracket above the starter
to
> > mount the solenoid, does the solenoid rely on this mounting for ground?
The
> > rivets have worked a little loose and the unit wobbles.
> >
> > 2.  Anybody had one of the aftermarket solenoids wear out?
> >
> > I bought a spare, but would like to wait on the wisdom of the list
first.
> >
> > Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel
>
> All 4 relays that I have installed in vanagons and buses have been placed
under
> the back seat out of the weather.  Some types of relays need to have the
case
> securely grounded, some do not.  I don't know about the relay kits sold by
list
> vendors, since I have always improvised with parts from Radio Shack, etc.
>   Having said all that, you should be aware that if the brushes and
commutator
> in the starter are bad enough a relay won't solve the problem because the
ground
> path for the main solenoid is thru the starter.  In this case you can have
the
> starter "rebuilt".
>
> Larry A.
>
>
>