Mike,
     If your starter is over 5 years old I would
consider a rebuilt.   Many things can go wrong.   A
bad bearing can cause the same symptom.   Even the
bushing or a starter gear.   Bad windings?   Spend the
money and save the time with a rebuild but perhaps
save the old one as a spare.   Make sure your getting
the right volts to the starter before you do anything.
Does it work with a jumpstart?  and note that yours is
a watercooled van and gary's is a aircooled.
aircooled can cook the starter with heat,  gary
Date:    Sat, 13 Dec 2003 14:20:15 -0800
From:    Mike Pedersen <mikeped@SHAW.CA>
Subject: HELP, starter question

Hello All,
I was going to use Gary Shae's starter solenoid
rebuilding procedure,
since the starter on my 88 automatic seemed fine but
the solenoid is
hanging up when going to start. See link here:
http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind9810D&L=vanagon&P=R17305
I used to do this every year on an old Triumph GT6 I
had... But when I
went to pop off the starter, (nice place...) I found
is a blob of weld
on top of the upper starter fastener (stud or bolt).
This is either
the old trick to getting a bolt in a hard spot then
breaking off the weld
or the PO was a lazy a**hole. I can't tell with my
dental mirror or
finger if this weld was broke. Questions:
Is this a stud or a bolt?
Any ideas how to lubricate solenoid shaft without
removal as a temp
fix?
If this is a nutted stud, how should I torture the
previous owner?

Thanks,

Mike Pedersen

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