Stuck at Rest Stop in WV and Van won't start, Please Help!

[focusedcycling]

My friend and I stopped in a rest stop in WV last night. Turned off the van, slept for the night. Packed up this morning and the van won't start... Won't even try to crank?

Battery has juice, plenty, guage says it's full and I have Aux batt that keeps all drain off the starter battery. I am shooting in the dark, but maybe starter?

I have an 87 2.1L Manual Westy.

Where is the starter so I can try giving it a tap...

There is a small incline here in the rest stop, can the van be "pop started" when it won't crank?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks
-Ben

[SteveVanB]

If it has good voltage, I would try and pop start it. Do it in second gear though.
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91 CARAT

[morymob]

When key turned on do u hear fuel pump cycle, fuel guage working means u r getting pwr to dash and probably eng. U have been in ratty weather right, maybe wire conn at starter wet/corroded up from saltso solenoid don't energize to run starter. Have seen very bad/corroded batt cable conn loose and enuf conn to do lites but not starter, maybe not even click starter sol. NOT telling u to do UNLESS van is in NEUTRAL,park brake on and buddy holding brake but u can crawl under and jumper the small sol wire to the large cable conn and get starter to operate starting eng(if ign key is on).Done this in same bind. As u are sitting in a down grade u can roll off and ign on , in 2nd gear let clutch out when at your running speed to start, used to park where this possible long ago.Before doing this make sure you have space to get out of way if it don't start. By the way,starter is located on pass side of trans at eng/trans mating point.

[focusedcycling]

I am getting power to the fuel pump.

I read about the parking brake light starter test to ensure that the ignition is giving the signal to the starter. I tried that out and the ignition is definitely sending info to the starter.

About to try and tap on the starter to check the connections now. Will keep you posted.

[focusedcycling]

Thanks for the help and the starter location! I got under the car and found it and gave it a few real good taps with a bicycle U Lock. She started right up after that.

You're a lifesaver!

[vw7266]

where in WV were u stranded?

[wyomingresident]

[wyomingresident]

[Wildthings]

Now fix it right as soon as you can, as the problem will likely reoccur. It could be just ratty connections, including a bad ground, or it could be that your starter brushes are worn out or corroded in their holders.

Until you get it fixed carry a 16" long 2x2 (or an equivalent piece of firewood) and a 3# hammer to whack it with.

[morymob]

Glad u got er going, u need to check it out at available chance. One of mine,'84 auto started that, thought i would just go to show coming up then fix. Stopped for coffee at a Hardies and ended coasting to rear of pkng lot, removing wheel and removing starter, sol was gummed up and stuck halfway, took it apart and cleaned/oiled ok for next yr until sold. This cold weather will make things show up not normally a problem.A handy item i keep in the van is a piece of wooden broom handle, long enuf to reach thru from wheel area and give a suspect starter a whack with hammer and not have to crawl under.

[kgold708]

You need a new starter, OTOH I've owned VW's that did this ONCE and started without trouble for years before and after. Do you feel lucky?
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ASE Master Tech.
ASE L1 Advanced engine performance specialist.
ASE L2 Advanced electronic diesel engine specialist.

[NZer]

FWIW I had the same issue with my van, the colder it got the less it wanted to start, I ended up pulling the starter and pulling the plunger out and cleaning it and the bore it sits in with some fine grit emery tape and lubed it with graphite powder (stolen from a pencil i found in the back).
Its not a hard job to do if you have basic tool skills!
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A sad looking 88 Westfalia, MT 2.1 with 150k on the clock and several issues!

[t3 kopf]

when that was happening to me on my last van i routed a wire and push pull switch from the battery to the starter after replacing the starter. its kinda like a little emergency jumper. something that helps out alot on these old vans when the wiring to the starter gets iffy.
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'90 Carat w/ '95 phase 1 EJ22 OBD2 conversion