Last fall I thought I had a dragging starter. It was not wanting to
start when the engine was hot more and more. It also began to become
sluggish. I bought a new one from Ron at the Bus Depot thinking that
would fix the problem. The winter has gone and now spring has arrived
and the 'not-wanting-to-start-when-hot' problem has returned. I searched
the archives but must not have done a good job because I didn't find
anything about dragging starters or non-starting when hot.

I've checked every ground (even installed a separate steel cable from
the negative terminal on the starter to the chassis) but she just wont
start when hot. Could I have installed a bad starter out of the box? Do
I still have a ground problem? Any suggestions would be helpful. I'm
getting tired of asking strangers to turn the ignition key while I tap
the starter solenoid with a pipe. Not to mention the thought that I
don't really know if my van will start every time I turn the key.

--
Gregg and Anna Carlen
85 Westy (199k!)
76 Goldwing
51 Plymouth (for sale)
69 Alcort Catamaran (for sale)
webdesign@iafc.org
703-866-5136
_________________________________

<<Date:    Tue, 31 Mar 1998 09:30:42 -0500
From:    "Lebron, Nathan (GEP, Contractor)" <Nathan.Lebron@GEPEX.GE.COM>
Subject: Re: Dragging Starter

I installed a reply about 1 1/2 years ago.  Had the starter drag on me
only
once after a 3 hour trip, one summer, going between 80-90 mph, full of
furniture.  I was unable to start it for about 15 minutes.  Aside from
that
one occurrence, it works great.

----------
From:  niel blackwell[SMTP:branard@BELLSOUTH.NET]
Sent:  Monday, March 30, 1998 10:40 PM
To:  Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Subject:  Dragging Starter
Wally, the 84 Westy (150K) has a draggy starter, especially when hot.
A lot like my daughter's Jetta when we installed the $10 Bosch relay
"hot soak" kit. Has anyone installed one of these on a Vanagon? Or am I
destined for a new starter?>>