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IzakLuna
Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2019
Posts: 5
Location: TX
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 Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 3:11 pm Post subject: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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| My bosch starter was starting to stick and cause intermittent starting issues so I replaced it with a Duralast one (best I could find and didn't want to wait for a mail order bosch) The starting system worked great except when it'd stick and I'd have to hit it with a wrench so it'd unstick and spin. I was pretty sure a new starter and solenoid would fix that, however once getting the new part on, it would only spin and not engage the flywheel. The battery and terminals were replaced a couple weeks ago and I've checked and rechecked connections. I even returned the duralast starter for another one thinking maybe I got a bad part. Has anyone had issues like these when switching from a bosch to duralast starter? I think it'd be highly unlikely I received 2 parts with bad solenoids. Is there any other part I may need to check or replace? I disconnected the battery before working on it and meticulously checked every connection coming off and going on. I'm tempted to go back and get my old starter back and just have it rebuilt at a place in town since it worked just fine but just needed a little cleaning and rebuilding. I don't understand why I'm having these issues and I'm on day 3 of troubleshooting. Any help, advice or anecdotes would be greatly appreciated. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52239
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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| VW used three different starters on Bay Window Buses. It would be much easier to help you out if you would give us some details on your rig. Year, engine, tranny, and any other pertinent info. Did you change the starter bushing? Did you physically compare your new starter to your old, especially the drive and shaft? |
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IzakLuna
Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2019
Posts: 5
Location: TX
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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| It's a '77 body but the PO put a '73 motor in I believe. It's the 1700cc dual carb with a manual transmission. I didn't change the bushing since I didn't have the tools for it and it looked like it was in great shape. Still had a copper color and it didn't look worn down in the slightest. The PO said it just got a complete rebuild at the beginning of the year so the mechanic may have replaced it then cause it really looks brand new honestly. I did compare the bosch to duralast starter at the store and they looked very close to identical. I didn't measure anything but it looked spot on from eyeballing it. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52239
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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| IzakLuna wrote: |
| It's a '77 body but the PO put a '73 motor in I believe. It's the 1700cc dual carb with a manual transmission. I didn't change the bushing since I didn't have the tools for it and it looked like it was in great shape. Still had a copper color and it didn't look worn down in the slightest. The PO said it just got a complete rebuild at the beginning of the year so the mechanic may have replaced it then cause it really looks brand new honestly. I did compare the bosch to duralast starter at the store and they looked very close to identical. I didn't measure anything but it looked spot on from eyeballing it. |
A '77 and a '73 take different starters depending on which bellhousing the transmission has bolted up to it. Put a '73 starter on a '77 bellhousing and the starter will just spin, while a '77 starter will not fit into the '73 bellhousing as the shaft it too long. You can go to a vendors website and compare the pictures of the two starters.
FWIW most every starter out there is going to be a Bosch, it is just a matter of who does the rebuild as to who gets to stick their sticker on the outside. |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42364
Location: at the beach
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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someone else just had a similar issue. The outcome was:
| jacobcallaghan wrote: |
| Ended up being my shitty autozone starter. Starts no issues with a new starter. |
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin |
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TomWesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3503
Location: Wyoming,USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 10:07 pm Post subject: Re: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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Sounds like all you had was a sticky solenoid, or maybe not enough juice to the starter, and now you have the wrong starter. I’d almost bet that if you took the original Bosch and cleaned the solenoid really well (Some would tell you to grease it. I wouldn’t. Your choice), cleaned BOTH ENDS of BOTH battery cables ( which includes unbolting the ground strap from the body or wherever it attaches and shining up the places where it contacts), and re attached everything in its proper place, your starter will work reliably until the cables and or the solenoid get dirty again.
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IzakLuna
Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2019
Posts: 5
Location: TX
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| Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 11:43 pm Post subject: Re: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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In response to wildthings, I thought the 77's only came with 2 litre engines and I definitely don't have a 2 litre. I'll still go check and compare on a site though. Thanks for the advice.
In response to others, I don't think I trust AutoZone and their parts. One store pulled out a completely wrong starter with the D bolt holder grinded off and a solenoid terminal broken off and I had to point out all that before they quit telling me that's the one. I think I'm just going to get my original starter back (hopefully that's still possible) and clean it. It was awfully greasy when I pulled it, probably due to a major oil leak from the oil hose that connects the dip stick to crankcase but I fixed that a week ago. I bet it was just super dirty and sticky. All this time I've spent returning and diagnosing, I should have just cleaned it myself or gone with a mail order Bosch from jbugs as I saw they have the identical starter to the one I had. Oh well, I'm learning a lot. I appreciate everyone's help immensely. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52239
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| Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 5:26 am Post subject: Re: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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| IzakLuna wrote: |
In response to wildthings, I thought the 77's only came with 2 litre engines and I definitely don't have a 2 litre. I'll still go check and compare on a site though. Thanks for the advice.
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The engine size doesn't matter, they are all the same externally. What matters is that the starter matches the bellhousing. The bellhousing is part of the transmission, but can be swapped separately. I have an 1800 engine and a three rib (002) transmission in my '77, but the three rib has the six rib (091) bellhousing attached so I need the later starter. |
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IzakLuna
Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2019
Posts: 5
Location: TX
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| Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 9:40 am Post subject: Re: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| IzakLuna wrote: |
In response to wildthings, I thought the 77's only came with 2 litre engines and I definitely don't have a 2 litre. I'll still go check and compare on a site though. Thanks for the advice.
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The engine size doesn't matter, they are all the same externally. What matters is that the starter matches the bellhousing. The bellhousing is part of the transmission, but can be swapped separately. I have an 1800 engine and a three rib (002) transmission in my '77, but the three rib has the six rib (091) bellhousing attached so I need the later starter. |
Oh wow, thanks for letting me know that. I'm starting to think my issue is I have the wrong part now. AutoZone said they didn't have the starter for any of the 77's in stock anywhere so I'd have to order it anyways. I'm just gonna hope I can get the original back and order the right one once I figure out which one it is. Thanks! |
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IzakLuna
Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2019
Posts: 5
Location: TX
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| Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 10:54 am Post subject: Re: Installed new starter and solenoid, it spins but doesn't engage |
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Turns out I did have a 6rib housing. I've got the correct part coming in tomorrow. Thanks for all the help guys.
Also here's a link for anyone running across this thread later that easily shows you how to identify which housing you have. https://dunebuggywarehouse.com/vw-3-rib-vs-6-rib-bell-housings-dunebuggy-sandrail |
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