When I first bought my '85 it had *exactly the same symptoms
Marshall is having now.
My mechanic installed a "hard start" relay & it solved the problem.
Phaedra

----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Ingalls <ingalls_mark@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2002 8:09 PM
Subject: Re: FW: URGENT: Stranded in Remote Area with disabled wife - please
h elp!

> Does it sound to anyone else like he may need the  'hard start solenoid
kit'
> like Gene Berg's sells?
>
> www.geneberg.com , under the electrical section part #GB-639-12U. It's
about
> $15US. There is a discription of the problem on the web site. They have
> overnight or 2nd day air service, I don't know about Canada though.
>
> Or the John Muir 'Idiot' book for aircooleds has a discription of the
> solenoid procedure on pg 446 of the 25th edition I have. I understand
though
> that Berg's supplies a solenoid that draws less power to close in than the
> one Muir suggests.
>
> Obviously I don't have any way to know for sure if this is Marshall's
van's
> problem.......
>
> Mark Ingalls
>
>
>
> >From: "Carrington, Tom" <TCarrington@RELITECH.COM>
> >Reply-To: "Carrington, Tom" <TCarrington@RELITECH.COM>
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: FW: URGENT: Stranded in Remote Area with disabled wife - please
h
> >             elp!
> >Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 21:56:16 -0400
> >
> >Hi Eveyone,
> >
> >Marshall Ruskin is stuck someplace in Manitoba.
> >
> >If you are able to help out a fellow listmember, please get in touch with
> >Marshall at:
> >
> >mbauhs@mb.sympatico.ca
> >
> >Thanks,
> >TomC
> >tcarrington@relitech.com
> >http://www.relitech.com/tomc
> >http://volksweb.relitech.com
> >http://checkerweb.relitech.com
> >85 Vanagon Crew Cab
> >82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
> >81 Checker A-11 (Taxi)
> >65 Notchback
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: M. Bauhs [SMTP:mbauhs@mb.sympatico.ca]
> > > Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2002 10:07 PM
> > > To:   tcarrington@relitech.com
> > > Subject:      URGENT: Stranded in Remote Area with disabled wife -
> >please
> > > help!
> > >
> > > Hi Tom, Marshall Ruskin here.
> > >
> > > I'm at my in-laws in Snow Lake, and I 'm not getting list messages
here.
> > >
> > > Can you post this message to the list, and have them p-mail me to  me
> > > at:
> > > mbauhs@mb.sympatico.ca?
> > >
> > > Message follows:
> > >
> > > Hi Volks:
> > >
> > > I'm stuck in Northen Manitoba, in a small mining town with 1500
souls -
> > > help!
> > >
> > > Here's the thing:
> > >
> > > Last Wednesday in Winnipeg, I tried to start the van, and there was
> > > nothing, not so much as a
> > > click - but all my accessories and lights worked fine.
> > >
> > > To me, it seemed like a dodgy ignition switch - and I towed it to
> > > Continental Car Services in
> > > Winnipeg.
> > >
> > > I told Brett, (the owner the story), and suggested it was a problem
with
> > > the switch.
> > >
> > > He did some checking - said I needed a new starter, and installed it.
> > > ($367).
> > >
> > > Karen (disabled in a wheelchair) and I left yesterday for Snow Lake
(700
> > > KM North of
> > > Winnipeg).
> > >
> > > Aboput half way there, I stopped for gas - and then the car wouldn't
> > > start - same symptoms as
> > > before.
> > >
> > > I had it towed to a local garage (with a responsible mechanic) who
> > > admitted he knew nothing
> > > about these vans, and was hesitant to do anything with it.
> > >
> > > After checking out the starter connections,, which were good, he said
> > > try starting it again - it
> > > started.
> > >
> > > So - I drove all the way here, without shutting off the engine. Got to
> > > my camp site - shut off
> > > engine - wouldn't start. Tried several times, same thing.
> > >
> > > This morning - it started fine. Thing is - it is totally unreliable in
> > > this condition - and I have a
> > > long way back to civilization, with a disabled wife as passenger.
> > >
> > > I have Bently, Haynes and wrenches and socket set, vice grips etc with
> > > me. There'a a small
> > > mechanic in town, if he can do something for me - it's a $200 tow from
> > > the campsite, however!
> > >
> > > Can anybody please give me a hand here?
> > >
> > > I am writing from Karen's Parents place in Snow Lake.
> > >
> > > Please suggest something I can do, and give me enough direction to
> > > action it, puleeease!
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > Marshall Ruskin
> > >
>
>
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