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wingman
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Norcal
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 Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 12:47 pm Post subject: Faulty starter? |
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Hi,
I am bench testing my starter before installing the tranny since it occasionally refuses to click at cold start.
When I test it with my spare battery, it spins initially then slows down and finally stops after a few seconds. After a few rounds I checked the battery and the voltage dropped from 12.6v to 12.3v and the starter does not spin any more after that.
Is the starter supposed to drain the battery so fast in just seconds? The solenoid does work and pops the gear out even if it's not spinning.
Thanks,
Michael |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17154
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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I'd find another test battery. With no load, I'd expect the battery to recover quickly. Also, I'm surprised the starter is not working with no load at 12.3 volts. Its the solenoid that completes the starter circuit as well as flicking the bendix gear out. Unfortunately, I think the bosch starter solenoids are factory crimped, so not so easy to remove and take apart.
So, no help. Sorry.
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wingman
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Norcal
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:09 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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Thanks. Did try with another battery and some behavior 
Michael |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17154
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:13 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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That does not sound correct. The starter should work 100 times. Since it's been intermittent, I wouldn't waste any more time on it at this point.
Go to Westy Ventures and buy his TDI starter adapter and harness. Then get a TDI starter and never look back.
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4796
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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^^^^^ i'll second that motion.
just went out to start the 87 and take it for a spin as i haven't ran it for a couple months. such a joy to hear that confident cranking sound, even with a battery that wasn't topped up.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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VicVan
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1845
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
| Go to Westy Ventures and buy his TDI starter adapter and harness. Then get a TDI starter and never look back. |
That's what I did when my starter died. I found a used starter at a used parts reseller. The totoal of the TDI adapter plus the 2nd hand starter was less than a new stock starter. On top of that my starter cranks faster, and if it fails, i can just get another used one for cheap.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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wingman
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Norcal
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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Just came back and all 3 part stores I visited said their machine told them vanagon starter needs to be tested in the car. Just to be sure my test is valid, I connect the jumper cable + to starter B+ terminal and groud to starter mount edge. Then I bridge B+ terminal and the solenoid spade with remote starter cable.
@djkeev, how do you open the starter? I am thinking to keep my old starter and play around it just for fun.
Thanks,
Michael |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4796
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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the old OEM starters are eminently rebuildable. that is their strength. i've got 2 good cores to maybe rebuild. but once you experience the TDI upgrade, you don't want anything else. just the SOUND alone is so intoxicating.
as i've said before, i'm a cheap SOB and do the deep dive to rebuild things. the TDI starter upgrade wins.
in short, it is R-R-R-R-R-R vs R..r.R..R.r.R..r or something or other!
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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wingman
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Norcal
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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Quick question for the TDI starter. Looks like its B+ terminal is shorter than the original one. Will I able to fit the original alternator and battery cables on it? I know I have to change the ignition switch wire connector and I hope that's the only change.
Thanks,
Michael |
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ajdenette
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2009
Posts: 768
Location: Hope Valley RI
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wingman
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Norcal
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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It's like a never ending quest  . At first I just want to replace that leaky rear main seal. Then added flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing, throw out bearing and input main seal. During the process I found my CV boots, various shift rod boots and bushing are shut. Just this morning I found my starter is bad and now adding alternator wiring upgrade to the queue.
Consider it served me well during our last death valley trip I'll go ahead and do them all 
Thanks,
Michael |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9615
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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On some starters ( not sure which??) I think the armature rubs on the magnets if theres no bushing supporting the end.
Can you do a valid starter test if the armature is rubbing?
And this....
A built-in “starter failure point” on a 30-40 year-old Vanagon.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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wingman
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Norcal
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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| Good point. Let me bolt it on the tranny and test tonight! |
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wingman
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2006
Posts: 129
Location: Norcal
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: Faulty starter? |
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It spins strongly when bolted on the tranny! Thank you so much for the pointer.
I feel like an idiot by not researching more before testing. I hope I did not damage the starter with the improper test .
Thanks,
Michael |
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