I would look for a weak point in the wiring from the positive battery
terminal. You could easily check for this by measuring the voltage at the
starter WHILE cranking. If the voltage going to the windings of the starter
motor is low, you have a resistive point in the positive wire from the
battery.

On 1/26/06, Wesley Pegden <wes@cs.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> To rule out problems with the flywheel, I tested to see if hand-turning
> the engine over a little between attempts when would bring quicker
> success, but it didn't.  (My wire definitely isn't melting, either, but
> I'll check tomorrow if it's getting really hot).
>
> cable getting real hot?Oh yeah, I read the last post and the start
> position
> allows the current to flow to the starter.Not the run position.
>
> Sorry if I wasn't clear... this is what I meant.  In the start position,
> the headlights dim, which I take to mean the starter is getting current
> (along with the loud click noise from the engine compartment that I
> think is the solenoid).
>
> The van is a manual 1.9l.  My next try is the ignition switch... I'll
> have a new one here tomorrow I'm going to try to put in.  If that
> doesn't work, I'm out of ideas.
>
>
> -Wes
>
> Roger Sisler wrote:
> > If these dont work, you need to go back to your origional posting on
> > this,and look for other symnptoms. Perhaps a loose flywheel is binding
> the
> > starter gear.Or not allowing the starter to make full electrical
> contact.If
> > this , or other engine mechanical problems lock the starter motor, the
> > starter cable will heat up and melt the starter cable insulation. Is
> your
> >
> > Is your van automatic? If so there is a neutral start switch in series
> with
> > the  solonoid,you need to consider. If it is out of adjustment, the van
> > wont start. Try putting the shifter in neutral and starting it.Try any
> gear
> > and start it. Look in the archives for "neutral start switch
> adjustment".
> > Not hard to do. It is located in the shifter housing.
> >
> >
>