Hi Ken and Dennis,,

        I’m going to try to remember this for  any future no start times as a first thing to try.

This brings back a memory or two of Heidi saying to me the van isn’t starting.  From the passenger seat I would move the automatic selector through the settings and firmly back to park.  The van would then start. 

I think twice in 7 years.  Maybe just not fully in park, Maybe the neutral switch.
  

        Good to have the reminder.

Eric Caron 

> On Apr 4, 2020, at 8:36 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> 
> For the Automatic Vanagon, the neutral safety switch can be touchy.  I
> can't count the times that customers call me in a panic about the fact that
> the van won't start.  Is it an automatic?  If so is the starter even
> turning at all.  If not, shake the shifter from side to side while holding
> the key in the start position.  Your van just started?  You are welcome.
> 
> Ken
> 
> On Fri, Apr 3, 2020 at 9:35 PM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> 
>> You find that neutral safety switch on the shifter to be less than stellar?
>> 
>> Only one I’ve worked on for a friend was, maybe someone was in there
>> before, a bit janky.
>> 
>> I seem to recall the white plastic brittle.
>> 
>> Alistair
>> 
>>> On Apr 3, 2020, at 6:32 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I checked the history on this van. It had a starter fail and was
>> Repalced with a Bosch SR25X March 2017. Towed in June of 2017 which is when
>> this GW starter was installed at 228K miles. Being an automatic I know that
>> voltage drops to the solenoid can be a problem although the GW starters
>> usually aren’t that fussy. I’ll check the switches including the neutral
>> safety and see what I find. It just took me by surprise. I acquired this
>> van last April, at 248K, now at 266K and 3 NY to Florida trips. This is the
>> first glitch that just picked a bad day to tick me off!
>>> 
>>> Dennis
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> From: Alistair Bell [mailto:albell@shaw.ca]
>>> Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 8:57 PM
>>> To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>> Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
>>> Subject: Re: So stuff even happens to me!
>>> 
>>> Oh i like the pigtails.
>>> 
>>> I had the solenoid trigger were come off, on a trip. We had stopped at
>> head of small spur which we explored by foot. Van wouldn’t start on return.
>> Was a level spur and wife, son, and myself managed to push start. We then
>> drove up onto another spur , high to allow rolling down hill start, to
>> camp. Next day I managed, with long pliers etc, and cutting my knuckles, to
>> get wire on via engine compartment.
>>> 
>>> https://shufti.blog/2010/09/08/end-of-august-trip/
>>> 
>>> I have re done that connection since.
>>> 
>>> Dennis, are you going to pull starter this weekend?
>>> 
>>> Alistair
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Apr 3, 2020, at 2:36 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Yes!
>>> Better yet, since the solenoid connection is a failure point of its own,
>> the GW starter features an attached pigtail with 2 connectors on it. This
>> is for the vans where a separate wire was at the solenoid for the ECU start
>> signal. Anyway, the wire and connector(s) can now stay in the engine
>> compartment. Made it easy to uncover the spare and use that to jump it.
>>> 
>>> Of course now I need to some diagnostics and a fix.
>>> 
>>> Dennis
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Alistair Bell [mailto:albell@shaw.ca]
>>> Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 5:24 PM
>>> To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>> Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
>>> Subject: Re: So stuff even happens to me!
>>> 
>>> 91 is the 2wd right. Easier to get to the solenoid , in the field, than
>> the Syncro, right?
>>> 
>>> Alistair
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Apr 3, 2020, at 2:16 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> So today I drove the 91 to get groceries. Went to a store ~ 4 miles
>> from home. Drove there no problem. Do my shopping. Get in the van, turn the
>> key no start. No cranking at all.
>>> 
>>> So it a bit cool rainy and nasty out. After getting my lack of patience
>> when stuff don't work figured lets see what happened.
>>> So at first though is battery dead! I have one of those USB sockets wit
>> voltmeter. 12.5 volts. Turn key, warning lights on, turn key to start, dim
>> slightly. Ried with gear shift not in park or neutral, no change, so in
>> park the dimming tells me we are trying to energize the solenoid.
>>> 
>>> So go in back. Who put all the groceries on top of the engine? Yea, move
>> all the stuff. Get rid of the mattress and rug, lift the cover watch it
>> fall, lift again and move it so it stays up. Anyway, look for anything
>> wrong, nothing. So thinking just a case of maybe solenoid sticking or
>> excessive voltage drop. So get tool box. Piece of wire. This is a GoWesty
>> starter so there is an unused terminal on the solenoid harness. So make
>> jumper and connect from terminal back of alternator to solenoid. It cranks.
>> Go back up front, turn on ignition, go back, use jumper to start and on my
>> way.
>>> 
>>> Get home, try with key and its works as it should! Go figure.
>>> 
>>> Dennis
>>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com