When you say, "With the key turned in the ignition, I get .7 volts at
the shorter terminal screw, With out the key on, I get 0", do you mean
with the key turned to the start position? If so, either the solenoid is
not activating or has a bad contact, or you may have a bad ground to the
engine/transmission. Check the ground cable at the front of the trans.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Doug Demarest
Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2005 3:31 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: help interpreting starter problem

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