

| Subject: | help interpreting starter problem |
| From: | Doug Demarest |
| Date: | Sun, 1 May 2005 12:31:06 -0700 |
Hello, so I got a bit flamed on friday for an apparently bone-headed method of checking my old starter in my 86 Vanagon 2.1 ...anyway, here is what I have now and, being a novice, I'm not sure how to interpret it: Testing my starter at the FLAPS gave intermittent results--it worked on the first try, but then he couldn't get it to fire again. It was pretty old and I decided to get a new (rebuilt) bosch starter rather than continue to mess around. Unfortunately, I am still messing around. I installed the new starter yesterday. Upon turning the key and i can hear the fuel pump and a click of the solenoid but no cranking at all. My battery shows 12.6 volts. Upon turning the key I measure 12.6 volts at the small wire that connects to the solenoid. Regardless of the positon of the ignition key, I get around 12.4 volts at the long terminal screw on the starter that is connected to the battery (is this normal?). With the key turned in the ignition, I get .7 volts at the shorter terminal screw. With out the key on, I get 0. Is the solenoid bad on my new starter? My intuition says I should get 12 volts at the shorter terminal screw if the solenoid is sending power to the starter motor. Any help interpreting this is appreciated, doug
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