[s-cars] No A/C, no wipers, and finally, no start

[Robert Myers]

At 12:57 PM 8/1/02, Robert Pastore wrote:

>Me too?
>
>I am relatively certain this is what happened to me about 10 minutes ago.
>I start my car to go to lunch -- and there's a strange rattle from under the
>hood that doesn't go away.  No HVAC, power windows, lights, etc.  I pull off
>into a parking lot to investigate -- smell of burning electrics
>Noise from rear of engine sounds like the wheel bearing on a cheap
>rollerskate -- Step on/off clutch no change is sound.
>Staring at engine -- WTF -- it coughs and stalls.  No restart.
>The stall is what bothers me though -- I hope the starter didn't take a
>flywheel tooth with it.

That's probably the moment the starter began to seize up and increase the
load on the idling engine.  The IMMEDIATE thing to be done is to slightly
twist the ignition key to the left so that the starter stops trying to
start an already running engine and the load relay disengages.  You can
tell when that happens by watching the HVAC display turn on again.  This
will allow you to replace _only_ the ignition switch.  If you wait too long
the starter damage is done and you get to do both jobs.


>I'm driving an s-car since 96 -- this is the first time I'm stranded!
>Bill M.  -- Buy the starter now.  You know it'll only be a few weeks before
>your car does it!
>
>Any BTDT on starter /ignition switch change, or any other ideas?
>
>regards,
>Bob (w/ZR-1 parts delivery car)
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Mike Durian [mailto:durian at boogie.com]
>Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 12:11 PM
>To: Robert Myers
>Cc: George Kostiuk; s-car-list at audifans.com
>Subject: Re: [s-cars] No A/C, no wipers, and finally, no start
>
>
>On Tue, 30 Jul 2002 19:01:36 EDT, Robert Myers <robert at s-cars.org> wrote:
> >George,
> >
> >Try this for size: your ignition switch did not return to the "run"
> >position but stayed in the "start" position.  This keeps the starter
> >cranking an already running engine leading to starter burn up (hence smell
> >of electrics burning).  It also keeps the load reduction relay engaged so
> >that HVAC, power windows, turn signals, headlights, etc. do not work.  On
> >attempted restart the load reduction relay acts normally because the switch
> >returns to the "run" position and all the electrics appear to operate
> >normally however the engine won't start because the starter is
> >dead.  Cure?  Replace ignition switch and, likely, the starter or at least
> >the solenoid.
>
>FYI,
>I removed my starter last night despite the intentions of a very stubborn
>16mm bolt head.  Once removed, I took off the back end of the starter
>and literally poured the brushes out like so much sand.
>
>Clearly, I suffered the failure you describe.
>
>mike
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Bob
*****
  Robert L. Myers   304-574-2372
  Rt. 4, Box 57,  Fayetteville, WV 25840 USA   WV tag Q SHIP
  '95 urS6  Cashmere Grey - der Wunderwagen    ICQ 22170244
  http://www.cob-net.org/church/pvcob.htm
*****