I forgot the caution .... Make SURE the transmission is in neutral
before operating the switch.

Mike

On my '85 I installed a remote starter switch in the engine bay as I got
tired of walking back and forth to the front when I wanted to just run
the starter.  It's a Wal*mart switch that cost me about $2.98.  It's
mounted on the passenger side firewall and one wire runs to the
starter's BIG terminal with the other going to the small one (works the
same as jumping the terminals at the starter).

Anyway ... one can "jump" the terminals with the starter installed which
will eliminate the ignition switch and its wiring.

Mike C.

Doug Demarest wrote:
> 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
>