I agree that 37 amps seems unreasonable.  I was surprised.  I will try the
measurement again and report back.

Larry A.

On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 10:38 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> There are a number of circuits on the Vanagon that are not fused. Starter,
> starter solenoid, fuel pump and injectors and some other stuff, ignition
> coil, etc. The solenoid usually pulls ~9 amps measured but you will see a
> spike that will confuse most amp meters.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Larry Alofs
> Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:22 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Starter solenoid current
>
> Where is this fuse?  In the circuit from the ignition switch that triggers
> the relay or in the circuit from the relay to the solenoid?
>  About 6 months ago I took a starter from an '84 AT and connected +12 from
> a battery to the push-on terminal that activates the solenoid.  As I
> recall,
> I measured about 37 amps.
>
> Larry A.
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 9:03 AM, William Greenamyer
> <greenamyer@yahoo.com>wrote:
>
> > I have had one of those starter relays for a long time now.  Usually has
> no
> > problems but it seems that the 15 amp fuse occasionally blows and I have
> > not
> > been able to find the problem.  No apparent shorts in the wiring
> > (everything
> > routed away from metal) so I am guessing it is the solenoid itself.  It
> > works but the last time the fuse went, it just barely blew.  Before
> > blowing,
> > it apparently reduced the current which didn't help starting.  What
> should
> > I
> > be looking at for a solenoid current for a Vanagon starter (manual
> trans)?
> >
> > William
> >
>
>