There's still a ton of snow on the ground so I haven't been able to crawl
under it yet, but I did do a little experiment. I used a long breaker bar
to reach in and wiggle all of the wires on the starter and solenoid in
hopes that this might produce a change in behavior and suggest that a
corroded connection might be to blame. No change. Then I used the breaker
bar to whack the starter several times. This produced a change in behavior.
It tried to start but didn't.  I was doing this solo so I couldn't hear
what was going on very well, but this clearly points to a starter or
solenoid issue rather than battery, wiring, or ignition switch. When the
snow is gone I'll crawl under there with a volt meter and see what's
getting power and what isnt. I'll also try bypassing the solenoid and see
if I can get it started that way.  In the mean time I have to admit that
I'll have to look up "bendix".

On Mon, Jan 25, 2016, 9:12 PM Ken <kdlewis@northstate.net> wrote:

> Michael,
>
> The Bendix might be binding if the bushing is worn out.
> Ken L.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Michael McSwain
> Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 4:04 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: [VANAGON] no start?
>
> So where would you start? The past couple of times I got in my van and
> cranked it up, the engine would barely turn over, but after two or so
> revolutions it started. Until it didn't. I have one of those cigarette
> lighter volt meters and after sitting overnight it reads 12.6 volts. When I
> turn the key to crank it, it doesn't drop below 11.5 volts or so. I put a
> trickle charger on it just to be sure, but it still won't start. Currently
> I hear no noise whatsoever when I turn the key except for the fuel pump
> priming.  Before this started I regularly watched the plugin volt meter and
> while running it stays at or over 13v. So I'm pretty sure it's not the 1.5
> year old battery or the age unknown alternator.  I assume that's a safe
> assumption.  If you disagree I'm all ears. So if it's not the battery,
> would a bad connection be the next most likely place to look and if so
> where?  The only place I've checked out so far is the actual battery which
> shows no signs of corrosion at all.
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
>
>