Bus won't start

Danwvw · Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:46 am Post subject:

Great that you got it! Yes these older buses that live out doors need a little TLC to keep the lights and starter going!
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

ncstagger · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:22 pm Post subject:

Take a wire brush to the post and connector and scrape till it shines.
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71 Westy Tintop - 1600 DP 34PICT3/009 - Pastel White

Resto thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=549162

"Take your most realistic time frame and dollar amount.. then add half of that amount. When you get that total... double it. Only then will you be in the ballpark." - sofaking

pickledBus · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the advice. I started with having my girlfriend try to start the bus while I poked at the solenoid and starter. After a little trial and error I found that if it poked the wires as she was trying to start it the bus fired right up. So I disconnected the battery and pulled off all the wires giving them a shot of PBlaster and scrubbing them with a shop towel. Putting everything back together and now the bus starts up pretty well. My voltage on the battery is only 12.4 so it is a little low I will take it out for a longer ride to charge it up and hopefully that will solve any other problems it might be having. Score so far, Gremlins: 0 Samba: 1.

shiningstar76 · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:52 pm Post subject:

Danwvw · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:45 pm Post subject:

Last time I had starter problems my starter motor was running but not engaging, I guess you can describe that as a buzz sound, I think it clearly sounded like a electric motor revving faster and faster. It was a deep sound that reverberated through the Bus body. The key would not even stop it! In my case the contactor in the starter solenoid had failed and welded itself in the Run position.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

shiningstar76 · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:17 pm Post subject:

How many volts do you have at the battery? I just went through that today with my bus. I had 12.1 volts and switched it out for one with about 12.4 and it fired right up. A fully charged battery should have about 12.7 volts.
About a week ago I had the same issue on another bus. I just slowed down, busted out the bently and followed the trouble shooting step by step. I wasted a lot of time fussing with all kinds of things when the book led me straight to a bad positive terminal at the battery.
Don't tell anyone but I actually switched out the starter before I got the book out. Shhhhhh
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KK4NTP
96 Tacoma
86 4Runner
My bus caught on fire and is now on the other coast with someone who gave me money for it.

Randy in Maine · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:57 pm Post subject:

From speedy jims....

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Desertbusman · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:41 pm Post subject:

Follow the Starting System Troubleshooting Chart in your service manual.

95% of the time it's always the same problem. Battery, cable, cable connections, ground strap, and most frequently it's the connections at the starter solenoid. The screwdriver test will quickly tell you what's up. Where is SGKents famous test foto?
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71 Superbug
71 Westy

saucerman · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:20 pm Post subject:

I can only speak from the experience of an older bus, 68' but indeed my key switch went bad. For a while before it totally quit working I could start it with an old spare.
It just happened one day too, out of the blue.
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70 Beetle (1776 MoFoCo)
68 Bus (1600DP)
02 Beetle

I have my Bus, my backpack full of food and my AK47...bring on the Zombies!

pickledBus · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:11 pm Post subject:

The only other change since it was running fine and now is my old key broke and the new one is much harder to turn in the ignition. Could the ignition turn but not make all the connections to start the bus?

pickledBus · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:10 pm Post subject:

Yes, this is a 77 with FI. I tightened the battery connectors and put a voltmeter across, it showed a little more than 12 volts from the battery. About a half hour after I did the original post I was out fooling with the starter, poking the volt meter around the terminals and was able to start it. But it was a very rough start it cranked for a long time before catching. I let it run for about fifteen minutes before turning it off to walk my dogs. After getting back from the walk I tried again and the same buzzing. Could it be the starter turning but not engaging the solenoid?

Randy in Maine · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:04 pm Post subject:

Is this a 77 bus with FI?

I trust you have already cleaned and tightened the battery to starter cable, battery to ground cable, and chassis ground strap?

Anymore I just change them out for $25 when I get a new bus since I know I am going to be doing it sooner or later and it might as well be sooner.

pickledBus · Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 3:56 pm Post subject: Bus won't start

The bus was running fine two days ago but had some problems initially because I forgot to reconnect the #3 cylinder spark plug wire. Today when I try to turn it on all I get is a loud buzzing sound but no engine turning over. Ideas?


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