Actually it is a good way to explode a battery. Luckily you didn't
activate the solenoid. The long stud on top of the solenoid is the
connection to the battery. When the solenoid activates, a large copper
bar connects this stud to the one with the wire going into the motor.
The starter case is the return, ground, or negative connection to the
battery. Manual transmission starters can not be tested uninstalled as
they need that bushing in the bell housing to support the shaft.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Doug Demarest
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 5:46 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: am I troubleshooting my starter correctly?

With a new battery, my van wouldn't start today. I can
hear the fuel pump, but no noise from the starter. I
pulled it out. I took jumper cables connected them to
my battery and touched them one to each of the large
bolts coming out of the solenoid. (the one that is
connected by a short wire directly to the starter was
rusty, so I sanded down to metal). No sound or motion.

Is this a convincing procedure to determine that my
starter is dead?

thanks,

doug