Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
VanagonEuroVan
Subject:Starting Problem
From:Dan Eggert
Date:Tue, 11 Dec 2001 16:20:12 -0600

Hello Volks,
Thought I would pass this one by everyone to see if anyone had any suggestions as to where I should start looking for a problem.
Both yesterday and today my van would not want to start after I drove it and parked.  Yesterday, I went Christmas shopping for about a half hour and when I came out it would not start.  It went through all the motions but would not catch.  The only thing that seemed wrong was that it acted like the battery was not fully charged and would hesitate a bit, but then turn over just like normal.  During the whole ordeal, I think I flooded it out so I left it sit while I got a bite to eat.  45minutes later I jumped in and it started up with no problem.  Today, I ran to the bank and was only in for maybe five minutes and when I came back out, same thing, would not start.  Same symptoms as yesterday, except this time it almost sounded and felt like the starter was binding a bit.  I thought that maybe the battery was low from the previous day even after running it on the highway for 20 miles after I got it started.  I ran home and grabbed my skateboard and went back to the van and once again it started up with no problem.  I got it home and pulled the battery out and put it on the charger.  According to the meter, it is about 85% charged.  
I put new plugs in just over 4,000 miles ago. The coil, points, condenser, distributor, and rotor are all under 2,000miles old.
I thought that maybe with the outside temp dropping that it may have something to do with it, but it is in the 40's right now and has been colder on other nights with no problem starting.  Any Suggestions?  I'm going to be putting her away as soon as the salt hits the road and I would like to take care of any problems before I do put her to rest for the winter.
Thanks everyone for your help.

Eggz

Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »