This is a very common problem. There are a number of things that can cause this but from experience bad rebuilt starters is the usual cause. A low battery, poor connections or wiring can add to this. Proper diagnosis requires a current meter (400 amps) and volt meter. Another possibility with the manual transmissions is the starter bushing may be bad. The starter gear shaft uses a bushing pressed into the bell housing for support. If the bushing is missing the shaft will jam a bit and create a slow or no crank situation. Some of the aftermarket gear reduction starters work very well as an upgrade. They are usually higher power and the permanent magnet motor with the gear reduction requires significantly less current to do the job. 

One of those starter relay kits will not help a slow starter situation. They only help when the original wiring is so bad it cannot reliably pull the solenoid in to set the gear and close the contact for the starter motor.  

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Rick Cooper
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 10:10 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Starter hesitation

Since buying it earlier this year, the starter on my 87 Westy hesitates when I turn turn the ignition to start.  There's an initial 'umph' -- starter gives kind of a push, then it stops for 1/4 to 1/2 a second before it starts again and, this time, carries on to start the engine.  Have I got a bad connection and, if so, where might it be?  I've heard of installing a relay somewhere in the starter circuit -- would that help?  What kind of relay do I need and where in the circuit would it go?

Thanks for any pointers,

Rick