[Vwdiesel] Starting problems

[HWY9FERGS at cs.com]

Hi all, I'm piping up again (uh oh ) I also agree that the problem is with connections breaking down under the load.  Fixing these things by going around the original circuits with relays seems like maybe shouldn't be necessary.  Any section of a circuit you suspect might be a problem can actually be checked by putting a voltmeter on it.  For instance, pos lead on one side of a connection and the neg on the other side of the same connection. With the circuit activated,if the current is going on through unimpeded you won't read voltage.  Any wire, cable, crimp, etc etc, you might suspect the circuit breaking down, if you put the meter leads on either side of it and activate the circuit, being able to read voltage means the circuit has resistance (bad).  I want to qualify all this with one major caveat.  Electrical problems can be very sneaky and this applies especially to intermittent problems dealing with circuits breaking down under load. PS  Look very very closely at any connections, terminals, lugs, crimps, etc etc that are on or near the battery, because exposure to sulfuric acid fumes causes especially insidious damage to these connections. Sometimes a pretty good, clean looking terminal can be breaking down under load. In the case of these intermittent starter problems, I'd take all of the feed wire terminals coming off the positive battery cable terminal, remove, clean, tighten and double check the one that goes off to the starter switch.  I've seen a perfectly good looking one be a problem. Also, don't forget your engine grounds, sometimes are overlooked and can cause problems.  Good luck and happy hunting.