The old John Muir VW fix it book had a real shade tree fix with
instructions that work on the vanagon too.  The solenoid from most of the
Ford models(3 terminals at 9/12/ &3 o'clock) work just as well.  If that
freaks you out, buy a kit from Gene Berg in Orange, CA.  I've had one on my
90 GL for several years....A clean ground is a happy ground.

Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel

At 04:30 PM 1/25/2004, lauterba wrote:
>David, as I have said on the list before.  There is a stock Bosch solution
>to the sticky solenoid problem.  It is known as the Bosch WR-1 relay.  Put
>"Bosch WR-1 " as the search string in google and hyperlinks to instructions
>and vendors follow.  I have mine mounted under the rear seat.
>
>John Lauterbach
>Macon, GA
>'84 7-passenger
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David Marshall" <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 2:00 AM
>Subject: Re: Can I buy just a solenoid?
>
>
> > Before you go ripping apart your starter, measure the voltage to the
>trigger
> > wire when you try to actuate the starter.  Chances are very good that
>there
> > is some corrosion in this wire and a huge voltage drop as it does take
>some
> > current to make the solenoid go.  I have seen cases where people spend
>mega
> > dollars (me included) on a nice Bosch reman starter only to have the
>problem
> > come back a few weeks later as the problem was never really the starter.
>My
> > solution was to install a 30A relay back there to trigger the actuator.
>Use
> > the original R/BK wire to trigger the relay and use the main 12V lead to
>the
> > alternator to feed the relay.  Most relays will trigger with as little at
> > 5V, however you won't see this much of a voltage drop as there is almost
>no
> > current needed to trigger a relay.  Try the $5 relay before you get the
> > wallet and tool kit out to fix the problem.
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> > David Marshall
> >
> > Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
> > 4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
> > Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3
> >
> > http://www.fastforward.ca    mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
> > Phone: (250) 992 7775        FAX: (250) 992 1160
> >
> > - Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
> > - Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation
> > - European Lighting for most Volkswagen models
> >
> >
> > Due to the large volume of email  we  receive,  PLEASE  include  previous
> > emails when responding.  This will allow us to read the complete dialogue
> > in one message and will result in quicker and more  accurate  responses.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> > Of Anonymous Digest
> > Sent: January 24, 2004 5:58 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Can I buy just a solenoid?
> >
> >
> > I have a friend with starting problems, and it sounds like it might be the
> > solenoid. Haven't actually climbed under and done any testing yet, as like
> > for many of us, I am afraid of freezing my butt to the garage floor, but I
> > would like to know the options for him when the time comes.
> >
> > I don't see any solenoids on the vendor web pages, just titanic prices on
> > starters! Yikes :-)
> >
> > What do we do when the solenoid is bad? Rebuild. Find a junk yard? Buy a
> > big hammer?
> >
> > On a related, but somewhat different topic:
> >
> > I tried searching the archives for past threads on starter problems, but
> > you know what? There are so many repetitions of the same paragraphs from
> > not snipping the replies, that the flow of the threads is not there, and
> > its really quite difficult to find your way through the real info, as you
> > find yourself reading the same paragraphs/text dozen times.
> >
> > I know asking for editing the replies is just usually just ignored, or
> > excused. I makes me crazy because I read the digest mode,  but the real
> > reason we ought to snip the replies lies in the archvies. They are huge,
> > and a treasure filled with priceless information, but its getting harder
> > and harder to use it because of the redundant text.
> >
> > Just my opinion. Hope no one minds me saying it 'out loud'
> >
> > Thanks for any solenoid advice.
> >
> > John