Vanagon mailing list subject effect got me yesterday. Starter failed on my 86 syncro. I was lucky to get access to lift and got the bugger out last evening.

Commutator very dirty, brushes down to a nub. I've dropped it off at local rebuilder and it is promised to be done this afternoon.

For some reason I prefer having the local company rebuild ( they can rewind armature if needed) than use a factory recon. I've been very pleased with their work on alternators in the past.

I'm thinking about what to do about the ign switch wire to the solenoid. I don't like how it is an exposed spade connection. I had to make a field repair a few years ago when that connection came loose. When I had the engine out later, I added a pigtail and installed a relay and that worked out fine. But I still relied on a plain Jane spade connection to the solenoid.

I'm wondering if I should solder the spade connection on to the solenoid and then seal all up with liquid electrical tape.

Alistair

> On Dec 9, 2015, at 10:02 AM, vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@COX.NET> wrote:
> 
> The kits in question are not extra solenoids, just a small relay.
> If weather conditions are a concern Jay's kit is designed for that.
> I suggested Jay's kit because home job ones can fall short.
> 
> https://sites.google.com/site/vanagonheadlightrelays/hard-start-relays/hard-start-relay
> 
> Rather than the GW starter I use the VW TDI starter with Karl's kit.
> That way you can get a replacement anywhere from a FLAPS when on the
> road, now and 10 years from now. GW says you can't get theirs anywhere
> but from them.
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
> Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>> You don't need to replace that wire unless there is something wrong with it,
>> it just closes the relay with very little current and the relay switches the
>> heavier load to the starter solenoid.
>> 
>> I'm in the camp that doesn't believe in them. It's just another thing to go
>> wrong, and if it isn't sealed properly it can short and activate the starter
>> while driving down the road on a rainy day. That would not be good. My son's
>> '87 had a kludged one installed and the starter was still intermittent, so
>> it now has a GW gear reduction starter and no extra solenoid.
>> 
>> Stuart
>> 
>>