I know it was a PITA for you, but I'd consider it a positive experience, all
things considered: You know a lot more about your van, you did some
maintenance-type items that probably needed to be done anyway, and the
archives now have a fairly exhaustive thread on the subject if there wasn't
one before. Plus the rest of us all got an education.  I can't wait for
something else to break down on your van!

Just kidding. : )

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wesley Pegden" <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 4:15 PM
Subject: Re: recap (still not fixed) Re: Update (not fixed...) Re: FIXED?
(and, advice needed...) (was: Re: low voltage, starter running
intermittently, but alternator is okay?)

> The end of this just happened 5 minutes ago.  My replacement starter had
> been bad, and my new one just arrived.  I put it in, and now it starts
> right way every time.  I'm happy to be done with this!
>
> In any case, my extensive (though possibly superfluous) electrical
> debugging has made me interested in installing a permanent volt-meter in
> the van... I'll post about that separately.
>
> Thanks again to everybody who helped (and kudos to those who told me to
> suspect the replacement starter)
> -Wes
> '84 manual
>
> Robert Fisher wrote:
>> Did I miss the end of this? What happened?
>>
>> Cya,
>> Robert
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Wesley Pegden" <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 10:53 AM
>> Subject: Re: recap (still not fixed) Re: Update (not fixed...) Re: FIXED?
>> (and, advice needed...) (was: Re: low voltage, starter running
>> intermittently, but alternator is okay?)
>>
>>
>>> Again, thanks for the replies guys... I'll get this fixed eventually.  I
>>> just went out and put a voltmeter on the back of the starter (well
>>> solenoid, actually) on the post where current is supplied (on mine I
>>> have two wires on this post?).  Anyways, With everything off, voltage
>>> there is 12.6, basically what it is at the battery.  If I turn the key
>>> and it fails to start, voltage at the starter is measures 11.8-11.9.  Is
>>> this voltage high enough that I should be suspecting my starter, or low
>>> enough that I should be blaming my connections?  In the meantime, I'm
>>> going to check this connection, Mike, since I'm out of other ideas.
>>>
>>> -Wes
>>>
>>> (For those just joining the discussion, the van is an '84 1.9l manual,
>>> with an intermittent start problem, which seems to be fairly unaffected
>>> by temperature, or for how long it's previously been driven.  Battery
>>> tests fine at a FLAPS, and I've replaced the alternator, starter,
>>> starter bushing, and replaced and cleaned the battery and transmission
>>> grounds.  Engine compartment ground is also new.  Voltage when running
>>> is 13.8v.)
>>>
>>>
>>> Mike Frost wrote:
>>>> On my '86, the big positive wire on the alternator goes to a black
>>>> plastic
>>>> junction box mounted on the firewall just above the thermostat housing.
>>>> Inside the junction box, the wire is bolted to a stud which is the main
>>>> connection point between the battery and the alternator/starter
>>>> motor. I
>>>> found this point to be corroded and the resistance was causing the
>>>> connection to heat up. This is the most likely spot to cause a big drop
>>>> in
>>>> current/voltage going to the engine from the battery. The fact that you
>>>> only
>>>> have problems when starting makes it seem likely that the battery does
>>>> not
>>>> have a clean path to (or thru) the engine compartment. Once the
>>>> engine is
>>>> running, all the current is supplied by the alternator.
>>>>
>>>> On 1/27/06, Wesley Pegden <wes@cs.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Today I tried a new ignition switch and changed out the transmission
>>>>> ground strap.  Neither fixed the problem.  I don't have any ideas past
>>>>> the starter at this point.  I also tried jumping the battery, as some
>>>>> have suggested my problem might still be a bad battery.  No dice.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -Wes
>>>>>
>>>>> Roger Sisler wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> ground straps, ignition switch plug,then take your new starter to an
>>>>>> advance auto parts store and have them test it for free.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>