SORRY.  I asked my mechanic (Jeff Hogue) and after I described the what was happening.

Jeff said:  Bad battery!
I said, but the charger is on FULL.
Jeff said:  Volts, yes, but no amps for cranking.

I came back home and put the volt meter on the battery: 10 at best, turn the key to ON, 6 ot 8
volts.

Changed batteries, and and the van fired up like we had just stopped for lunch.

Thanks Jeff, and my appologies to the list for wasted bandwidth.   malcolm (now smiling).

> On 4/12/07, Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > Went to start up the van for a perspective buyer and it tried to turn
> > over, but not much happened.
> > Sounded like the starter was trying to do it's job, just not much UMPH!
> >
> > THe van has not been run since about October 06, but I did start it up (no
> > driving) once or twice
> > during the winter (on nice days).
> >
> > My wife said that things were turning over very slowly in the engine
> > compartment, but when she
> > tried the key and I watched, nothing turned, but items were trying to turn
> > over.
> >
> > I have a full 110 V battery charger (on full power) to the battery (during
> > start efforts) so I
> > assume that the battery is giving full charge.
> >
> > I can turn the engine over by hand (using the belts) so the engine is NOT
> > stuck.
> >
> > I've heart of hammering on the solenoid or the starter,  Does one use a
> > hard hammer?? or a rubber mallet????
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ____________________________________________________________________________________
> > We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love
> > (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list.
> > http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>

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