In your original post you said that the starter, "stopped working." What
happens when you turn the key? Does it crank even a little bit? Does it make
a clicking noise? Does anything happen?

You are correct that there may be some voltage drop as current passes
through the ignition switch, but it shouldn't be anywhere near 4 volts.

I assume that your battery is fully charged. Is it? If the battery is fully
charged you have a problem is only 8 volts are making it to the solenoid.
That is where I would start to look.

Bruce

>From: Noel Cookson <ncookson@NETWORKUSA.NET>
>Reply-To: Noel Cookson <ncookson@NETWORKUSA.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: New Starter Stopped Working requires the RI wizard
>Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2002 11:54:45 -0500
>
>I have 12 volts at the starter. The lower voltage I mentioned was measured
>at the  solenoid on the starter. This voltage passes through the ignition
>switch and smaller wires than those found on the starter, hence the voltage
>drop.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "gary hradek" <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2002 11:22 AM
>Subject: New Starter Stopped Working requires the RI wizard
>
>
> > Noel,
> >     I may be off base here but I think you need 12
> > volts to the starter.   If we can get some input from
> > our wizard in RI I think he can better explain the
> > actual voltage needed.   Should check your grounds as
> > there are several and your battery and alternator
> > output.   gary
> >
> > Date:    Wed, 11 Sep 2002 10:02:59 -0500
> > From:    Noel Cookson <ncookson@NETWORKUSA.NET>
> > Subject: New Starter Stopped Working
> >
> > Hi listees. Questions about starter motors. I just put
> > in a new starter
> > that
> > stopped working after only 6 days of use.
> >
> > Before pulling the new starter I checked the voltage
> > at the solenoid.
> > There
> > were between 8.5 and 9 volts there. My understanding
> > is the voltage
> > should
> > be at least 8 volts. So the 8.5 to 9 volts should be
> > okay.
> >
> > Next I pulled the starter and gave it a visual
> > inspection. One thing I
> > noticed is the shaft coming out of the starter can be
> > moved in and out
> > and
> > up and down. This surprised me I thought there would
> > be no such play.
> > What
> > do you  think of this? Should I send the starter back
> > and get a new
> > one?
> >
> > Lastly,  I visually inspected the bushing in the bell
> > housing. My
> > mechanic
> > says they are okay as long as they are round, not
> > oblong. Mine was
> > round so
> > I did not replace the bushing. Does everyone agrees
> > with this approach?
> >
> > FYI, I wired up the starter while it was out and it
> > spun just fine.
> > When I
> > put the starter back in it continued to work.
> >
> >
> > Noel '88 GL tiico
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Yahoo! - We Remember
> > 9-11: A tribute to the more than 3,000 lives lost
> > http://dir.remember.yahoo.com/tribute
> >

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