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THE LORAX Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2018 Posts: 14 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:06 pm Post subject: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Hi forum I am broken down in West Texas just myself in my 4 year old daughter uh oh! I have a 1974 bay window converted over to a 1641 engine single port. Been running like a top just pulled in to get gas and now will not turn over. battery is good. All lights come on alternator light on with key turned just will not start or turn over at all hear the solenoid click when I turn the key suggestions? Have both books I'm starting to read but thought I would try here as you have been a wealth of knowledge... Thank you! |
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KentABQ Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016 Posts: 2406 Location: Albuquerque NM
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Try the simplest repair first:
Clean the battery posts and clamps, and clean the ground point between battery cable and body.
Edit: Have you tried push starting it? Usually you'll get lots of help from fellow gassers (!) when they see the VW and a 4-year-old. _________________ -Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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I would start with making sure the engine still turns, put in 4th gear and leave the key OFF, then push the bus with the engine lid open and watch the pulley, can you get a few full 360 degree turns out of it without any clanking noises?
If it passes that test it's time to move onto battery cable and starter diagnosis. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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kevin77westy Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2004 Posts: 795 Location: Ocean Springs, MS
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:41 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Try the old screwdriver across the starter terminals trick (ignition wire spade to big post with all the wires going to it - if you aren't familiar - it will spark a little). Make sure you are in neutral and key is on.
My starter went out one trip and my girlfriend had to push (she did not know how to pop a clutch) and it was amazing how many good samaritans would rush to help. Imagine the crowd you would get with a 4 yr old putting her back into it
Good luck! |
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THE LORAX Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2018 Posts: 14 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:12 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Clean the all battery terminals. Got a full revolution in 4th gear of the pulleys. Had someone give us a push start and started up just fine guessing it's the starter going out or is there anything I can check on that besides loose cables? New starter? |
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KentABQ Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016 Posts: 2406 Location: Albuquerque NM
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Cool! You're on the road again!
C'mon back to this thread when you get home. The trusty Sambanistas will help you find the caus of the problem and walk you thru the solution.
Safe travels! _________________ -Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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THE LORAX Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2018 Posts: 14 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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I have the Bosch blue coil starter I believe. How to test this? Thanks anyone won extra time? Napa shut down AutoZone closes in 40 minutes but do not think they carry this[img]
[/img] |
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THE LORAX Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2018 Posts: 14 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:27 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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We are in South West Texas headed all the way to Colorado though does this sound like I'm going to need to push start every time I stopped the vehicle and turn it off?. Better to go to Napa and try and get a starter here I think. |
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my59 Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003 Posts: 3781 Location: connecting the dots
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Search for the photos here about how to jump starter with a screw driver, and be concious to park on a slope facing down hill, just a bit of slope and you can push start by yourself.
Clean the battery and starter connections, and have your helper hold the flashlight for you.
Remember to convince the 4 yr old how much fun she is having. _________________ my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget. |
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Danwvw Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2012 Posts: 8892 Location: Oregon Coast
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THE LORAX Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2018 Posts: 14 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Limited internet connections and download speeds for pictures... can anybody tell me if the local AutoZone Duralast brand starter will work for me? I know it may not last long. Thanks for any help you can give |
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jdedini Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2009 Posts: 146 Location: Portland, Or
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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THE LORAX wrote: |
I have the Bosch blue coil starter I believe. How to test this? Thanks anyone won extra time? Napa shut down AutoZone closes in 40 minutes but do not think they carry this[img]
[/img] |
That blue coil is your coil, not your starter. The starter is under your bus. The autozone starter will work fine if it’s compatible with your bus. _________________ Justin
79' CA FI Tin Top Camper |
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BayCreamPuff Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2015 Posts: 769 Location: Oakland, CA
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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From a thread last week:
Brian wrote: |
I've had good luck with Duralast from AutoZone. The O'Reiley's brand ain't that great. |
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=692185 _________________ Cream Puff
'79 CA Stock FI Deluxe Campmobile
Earl Grey
'87 GoWesty 2.2 Westfalia
Marsha Mellow
'00 Eurovan VR6 Full Camper |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6936 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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The old won’t start after filling up on a road trip. Fun times, happened to me in Tucson one year. Drove from Durango to Tucson for the Gem Show, all systems were a go and then no start after a fill up. As stated above I put a screwdriver across the starter terminals, not the coil, starter came to live. I crawled out from under the bus, turned the key and we had a starter again. It didn’t start 2 other times that trip and both times I push started it solo.
As for starters the one from autozone is pretty good and come with a lifetime warranty.
Safe travels _________________ __________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build |
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jdedini Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2009 Posts: 146 Location: Portland, Or
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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richparker wrote: |
The old won’t start after filling up on a road trip. Fun times, happened to me in Tucson one year. Drove from Durango to Tucson for the Gem Show, all systems were a go and then no start after a fill up. As stated above I put a screwdriver across the starter terminals, not the coil, starter came to live. I crawled out from under the bus, turned the key and we had a starter again. It didn’t start 2 other times that trip and both times I push started it solo.
As for starters the one from autozone is pretty good and come with a lifetime warranty.
Safe travels |
These suggestions MUST come with the “make sure to put the bus in neutral and engage the handbrake before you try this.” disclaimer. We don’t need any dead members due to incomplete advise. _________________ Justin
79' CA FI Tin Top Camper |
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THE LORAX Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2018 Posts: 14 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Thanks Richard Parker and the all other song by members got too cold to lay under the bus so we opted for a hotel tonight. Picked up the Duralast incase Richard Parker's advice does not pan out so lucky for me will try and jump the starter in the morning. Thanks for all your help and advice. Cross your fingers wish me luck thanks again |
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Manfred58sc Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 3374
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Are you sure you have the right starter?? You have a T-1 engine and who knows what for a transmission/bellhousing. There could be an incompatibility. Vw Bus, Colorado plates, West Texas ?? you got brass balls. _________________ Fat chick owner/operator |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15129 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:24 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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yer starter is most likely fine(ish)
you most likely (IMO) have an irregular flow of electrons required to operate the starter.
either in the +12v OR the GND path wiring.
and it's exaggerated by the cold (and heat too)
what I would do.
buy a ~36in black ground cable from said autozone..
install it on the lower starter bolt.. scrape to clean/bare metal and run the other end to the battery NEG cable.. either where it bolts to the body (may need a longer metric bolt) or the cable clamp on the battery.. again clean/bare metal contact.
I would remove the positive cable from the battery and clean it to bare metal with a wire brush. leave it off, and go clean where it goes onto the starter solenoid too.. then you can reconnect it to the battery +pos post.
while putzing with the battery wear latex gloves..
I would see if it improves..
then I would go step 2. buy a ~30amp fog light relay at the flaps..
take the wire off the starter that comes from the key, it is the wire that pushes on the spade.. the end can get quite corroded and effect the flow of power.. inspect, clean and verify the curls of the female spade connection aren't loose when pressed onto the spade..
anyways.. back to the relay.
there are 4 numbers on the relay. well maybe 5, but we'll go with the 4 you need.
_________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50261
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:18 pm Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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To jump the starter get a 6 inch long piece of #14 or larger wire and crimp a female spade terminal onto one end. Now remove the wire from the spade on the starter solenoid and install the one you made. Now with the tranny in neutral, the key on, and the parking brake set you can jump the starter with a bit more grace than using a screwdriver. Just touch the free end to the big lug with all the wires on it and the engine should crank.
I agree that cleaning all your battery cable connections might be all you need to do. Buy new cables and get rid of any of the junky style replacement cable ends. Once you get all your connections clean, coat the post and the cable ends inside and out with vasoline to keep further corrosion at bay. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22568 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:18 am Post subject: Re: ! Help broken down in West texas ! |
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Op..you have to proceed slowly since you are on a steep learning curve
There is a lot of energy stored in your battery and the cables to the starter are one of the few cables that are not fused for safety. You can hurt yourself and also burn your Bus up if you make mistakes here.
Until you learn a bit more, the first rule when working on electrical systems is disconnecting the negative terminal on the battery..identify it, loosen clamp, remove terminal, then set it away from battery.
That makes it safe .
When you go to replace your starter this. Is really important as. You will have loose live 12V cables lying around, otherwise. If they touch metal with the battery fully connected, they will do major damage to the cables if not burn your Bus up, _________________ .ssS! |
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