Instead of "Hit", try "Tap".  The goal is to vibrate a stuck starter
solenoid loose (or possibly jar a bad connection into working), not strike
so hard as to distort the metal or leave marks.  A broom stick handle or
piece of pipe inserted thru the left rear wheel well will work also.

On Fri, Oct 19, 2018 at 3:39 PM Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com> wrote:

> After hitting it with a Hammer and they will not take your core back,
> because it has hammer marks and a cracked magnet.
>         I will attest to whacking it does make it work. But generally
> hitting anything with a hammer other than a nail is a bad idea.
>
>                                              Stacy
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Oct 19, 2018, at 9:36 AM, Robert Clemmer <n51219@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> >
> > Next time try tapping the starter with a hammer or wrench.  If it
> starts, most likely worn brushes.  I had the same issues with my 91 auto.
> Solved it with a new gear driven starter.  If I had to do it over again,
> I'd get the adaptor for the diesel starter.  Simply because they can be
> gotten at nearly any FLAPS whereas with an automatic starter you'll be SOL
> for a couple of days till one is overnighted.
> >
> > Just my 2 cents.
> >
> > BC
> >
> >
> >
> > I have an intermittent problem with my 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL
> > Campmobile with original Waterboxer 2.1 engine (180K miles) starting.
> Most
> > of the time it starts just as it should, almost as soon as I turn the
> key.
> > On some occasions, more often when it has not run for a few days, but not
> > always that condition, nothing happens when I turn the key.  I can hear
> the
> > fuel pump running, but warning lights do not come on every time, or if
> they
> > do, I (dumb, I know) failed to notice.
> >
> > My mechanic, European AutoHaus in Spokane, Washington ("Obie," trained on
> > these things in Germany, and almost as old as me with long experience
> with
> > them), cannot get it to fail in this way.  Starts every time for him.  I
> > have an ignition switch in the engine compartment as well, to use when
> > working on the vehicle.  Obie recommended that next time it fails, check
> to
> > see if the  engine bay switch works.  If not, he says starter, if yes, he
> > says ignition switch.  He states that the steering column ignition switch
> > looks fine (not discolored as his experience tells him is usual when the
> > switch is bad).
> >
> > Thoughts on this matter from this community of experts?
> >
> > Thanks, David McNeely
>