Engine Won't Crank....

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Ok... The engine in my "new" '62 will not crank over all of the sudden. I can turn the engine freely by hand. The battery is good, as a matter of fact, I jumped it with my errr Honda just to be certain. So I figured it was the starter. I went out and got a new starter. When I installed it, I realized that the previous owner did not have the "half moon bolt" in there. I installed the new starter with just the one nut (no half moon bolt) and the symptom is still there. In other words, the engine is only attached to the tranny by the 3 studs... no 4th bolt. Could this be the reason the starter is not turning the engine over?

Thanks,
Dave

[TimGud]

Here's a few things to check.There is big red wire under the back seat that goes into a connector and sometimes if things are put on it it will disconnect itself in the connector.It can look ok and still be apart inside of it, so really check it,this wire supplies the voltage to the starter celenoid when you turn the key.If ok; get a voltmeter or a test light and have somebody turn the key while you use the test light to see if there is voltage to the smaller of the two wires on the starter.(clip the test light end to a ground) If the light turns on while the key is turned it is either a ground problem with the strap by the nose cone of the trans or the one from the battery, a bad or dirty positive battery cable,a defective starter or the starter bushing in the transaxle is worn out.If no light, recheck the connector and use the same test with a test light while someone turns the ignition switch to the start position.If no light at the connector move to the back of the ignition switch and check the wires there for voltage. One wire will light up the test light at all times as it provides the voltage to the switch (its usually black) the second wire will be hot at all times the switch is in the run position(another black wire) and the third wire will only light up the test light when the ignition switch is turned to the start position( the large red wire).If the light does not light up the testlight its a bad switch.When under the car make sure its safely on a jack stand!!! You also need that second bolt.To install it slide it in from the starter side and put the nut on it in the engine compartment on the right hand side by the back tin. The first time its hard to locate but it needs to be there. Good luck.

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thanks for the input... Let me make something clearer. The starter does seem to be getting juice since it is turning the engine over about one time before giving up... It almost sounds like a dead battery, but it's not.

[[email protected]]

i just had a simmilar prob but mine was when i started my 67 in the mornings, if i didnt get it to fire on the first couple of cranks, wouldent turn over...... battery prob, just the time sitting overnight drained bat. so i got a new bat and prob solved, another thing to check in that braided ground strap, if its all corroded or a bunch od dirt-dust falls off it when you move it, replace

[TimGud]

If that doesn't solve it odds are the bushing is bad. Most major vw parts houses sell a tool to remove the bushing without taking out the engine.You can make a driver out of a bolt and nut and use electrical tape to cover the threads so the bushing doesn't get scratched or buy a driver as well.

[UZI]

please get that fourth bolt and install it.