Not to drag this out..but...

The original system was not robust.  It used a long length of barely
adequate wire with open crimp terminals, not exactly aircraft quality.
The voltage drop can and does go below 9v.  These all go for many years
until corrosion, gremlins cause trouble.  Adding the relay IS a
sensible alternate to going through re-terminating all the connections,
pulling a new wire and winding up with something subject to the same
failure.  Once it is done you can take comfort in knowing at least that
circuit is reliable; starter problems are probably in the starter.  In
the unlikely event of relay failure  you can still go if you jump the
relay terminals.   I'm done.

On Friday, Jun 25, 2004, at 11:04 US/Pacific, Jack wrote:

> Hooray!!!  Someone speaking up with some common sense.
>
> Bottom line:  If the starter solenoid isn't working as designed, find
> what's
> wrong & fix it!  Adding a relay is patching a problem. This is your
> conscience speaking ;-)

Edward Lowe
Seattle, WA
82 Westy Diesel upgraded to 1.9lt. Turbo
85 Golf Diesel 1.6lt NA
92 Cabrio 1.8lt gas
97 Passat Tdi