This symptom is well-know to me after all the years I've nursed
vanagons: your starter is on its way out if it hesitates longer than
"normal."

  It may go on like this for a while (meaning months) or it may quit
today.  This is all assuming that your better and electricals are in
good shape.

Jim

On Jan 31, 2007, at 9:20 AM, Michael Elliott wrote:

> Mellow Yellow's starter behavior is a bit odd -- I think. When the
> engine (1.9L)  is cold, by which I mean "Southern California cold,"
> e.g., in the 40's or 50's F, the starter doesn't just spin up, but
> has a
> curious hesitation.
>
> It goes like this: turn key, the starter engages and I hear the usual
> "gar-um" sound of the engine's flywheel being turned -- once, probably
> not even a full revolution. Then the starter hits resistance and
> hesitates - as if it was surprised by how hard the engine is to turn.
> Compression? It sounds like it comes to a full stop for a brief
> second.
> Then the starter overcomes the engine's resistance and spins it up and
> the engine starts just fine.
>
> It's been like this since I got Mellow Yellow. The engine always
> starts,
> but that brief pause is a puzzle. I have no idea if this is some quirk
> of 1.9L engines, some quirk of Mellow Yellow, or normal behavior.
>
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
>