[Vwdiesel] 81 pickup starter click but no crank

[Roger Brown]

Will Taygan wrote:
> I'm helping a buddy with his 81 diesel pickup
> 
> The starter went out a week or so ago, so we put in a working exide starter from my junker 82 diesel pickup.
> 
> It worked for a few days.  Then it stopped working.  He cleaned up the ground and electrical connections and it started working again.
> 
> Then it stopped working again.
> 
> The solenoid clicks.
> 
> We're working in -10F in the snow, but the block heater is plugged in.
> 
> 12.7v at the battery and at the big nut on the starter.  Just UNDER 10v at the solenoid when the ingnition is in cranking position.
> 
> Starter whirrs when I short the big nuts with a screwdriver.  Engine turns over when we turn the ignition switch to crankig position while the starter is whirring.
> 
> Is this another bad starter, or is there anything else it could be?

The solenoid needs a good solid 12 volts to pull in, might be a weak connection between 
the key switch and the solenoid.  Does it help to jump 12 volts right to the solenoid 
terminal?  If so, you might want to add a relay to apply current to the solenoid.  I did 
that on my Toyota, works great:
	http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml#OtherOptions

-- 

   Roger