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VanagonRocco
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2020
Posts: 18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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 Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 11:32 am Post subject: Van Not Starting! |
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1985 VW Vanagon Weekender (no cabinetry etc.)
I'm basically looking for any troubleshooting tips to help get my van started. I have a brand new battery. Basically:
1. Key in ignition; no beep sound, no lights, and complete silence when I turn it
2. Jump starting does nothing.
Any ideas? THANKS! |
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Scottn59c
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 308
Location: Northern CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Van Not Starting! |
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Could be a whole of things, and if you can get more specific, it will help.
Off the top of my head: Ignition switch, bad battery cables, bad starter, alternator
But if you are getting no electrical at all, then something's likely up with the battery and how it's connected.
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Farfignewton! |
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VanagonRocco
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2020
Posts: 18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: Van Not Starting! |
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| Thanks for the reply. I'm almost certain its the battery / connection. I had someone put in a second battery, and ever since then my starter battery has been losing power, but I've never seen it at absolute zero before. Really weird. |
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Scottn59c
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 308
Location: Northern CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Van Not Starting! |
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| VanagonRocco wrote: |
| Thanks for the reply. I'm almost certain its the battery / connection. I had someone put in a second battery, and ever since then my starter battery has been losing power, but I've never seen it at absolute zero before. Really weird. |
Yeah, it sounds like you may have zeroed in on your problem. If your primary battery has a draw on it from the secondary battery and nothing is charging it back up, or whatever device charges it is doing so insufficiently, your primary battery will eventually drain. If it's stone dead, then a jump start isn't going help.
Test both batteries for voltage with a multimeter. If you are getting anything less than 12.4v or thereabouts, then the battery is likely too low to start your engine.
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Farfignewton! |
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fxr
Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014
Posts: 2325
Location: Bay area CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 5:11 pm Post subject: Re: Van Not Starting! |
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| Scottn59c wrote: |
Test both batteries for voltage with a multimeter. If you are getting anything less than 12.4v or thereabouts, then the battery is likely too low to start your engine. |
And if you don't have a multimeter, get thee to Harbor Freight and spend $10 on one.  Yes, those cheapo ones are fine for fault-finding on our vans.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300 |
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VanagonRocco
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2020
Posts: 18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: Van Not Starting! |
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| Scottn59c wrote: |
| If it's stone dead, then a jump start isn't going help. |
I actually didn't know this! And that makes a lot of sense, thanks. |
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VanagonRocco
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2020
Posts: 18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: Van Not Starting! |
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| fxr wrote: |
And if you don't have a multimeter, get thee to Harbor Freight and spend $10 on one. Yes, those cheapo ones are fine for fault-finding on our vans. |
Thanks for the rec |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: Van Not Starting! |
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| You need to have power at the #30 (B+) wire at the fuse box or nothing is going to happen. If you recently messed with the battery and didn't clean the connections while you were at it, it is likely the connects are not passing sufficient amperage to so much as make your dash lights work. |
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