A relay is a good idea in any occasion. However, one must note that a
battery putting 12.3v to the meter is almost dead. 12.69v is a fully charged
battery (provided we are talking about regular lead acid batteries here).
12.1v is a completely dead battery. You might also check the resistance in
the leads on your meter. Faulty leads can give false readings. I recently ha
dto replace the leads on my Fluke as they were delivering almost 10 ohms of
resistance to themselves.

Chris DeLong
Fine Tuning
206.522.5503
www.finetuningperformance.com
Seattle, WA USA

>From: Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
>Reply-To: Greg Potts <Greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Weird Tiico starting problem -- please Help!
>Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 13:27:45 -0500
>
>Hi Oliver,
>
>12.3V at the starter should be sufficient, but was that measured at the
>thick wire to the battery or at the wire to the solenoid terminal?
>
>If the voltage at the solenoid is dropping (perhaps due to the age of
>the wire between the starter and ignition switch) then you will
>experience this problem. A starter relay can be used to boost voltage.
>
>If the voltage is good at the solenoid then I'd suggest you try a
>different starter, because your replacement starter has a bad solenoid.
>
>Happy trails,
>
>Greg Potts
>Toronto, Ontario, Canada
>
>1973/74/79 Westfakia Conversion **Bob the Tomato**  LY3H
>1977 Sunroof Automatic L63H/L90D
>http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
>http://www.busesofthecorn.com
>
>
>On 8-Nov-04, at 12:35 PM, Oliver Balson wrote:
>
>>I am new to this list but used to be involved with the type2list.
>>
>>My name is Oliver Balson -- I have a 90 vanagon and 2500 miles ago
>>installed the tiico engine conversion.  I have a strange starting
>>problem that has come up since the tiico conversion.  I'd love some
>>feedback on, as I am STUCK!
>>
>>
>>Around town, I have no problem -- van starts 100% of the time.
>>However, whenever I drive the van hard (70mph) for at least an hour,
>>the van will not start once turned off!  It will not even turn over.
>>I have replaced the battery, starter, ingnition switch, and all
>>electrical up front checks out. This has happened every road trip.
>>
>>This past weekend, we pulled over to help a flat tire victim at 1am
>>and the van would not crank back up!  We got a police escourt to the
>>nearest hotel, and the next morning (8 hrs later) I tinkered with the
>>van, but no luck.  I had 12.3 v at the battery, 12.3 v going into the
>>starter, but no turning over at all.  A few hours later, we were towed
>>75 miles, and once the car was unloaded, it started right up.  This is
>>very frustating, as it happens at the worst possible time and I am at
>>a loss.
>>
>>I am wondering if any experts have some ideas -- could something be
>>locking up when the engine/trans? gets good and hot?  The starter will
>>not turn over at all.  I'm certain this is not an ignition/electrical
>>problem, as we've checked all grounds, even added an extra engine
>>grounding strap. etc.? I also notice a lot more vibration in the gear
>>shifter in the front of the van.   I am wondering if somehow the
>>friction on the tranny is related?
>>highway, it will not restart afterward.
>>
>>Any response would be appreciated!
>>Please help! Thanks so much.  Oliver
>>
>>