[Vwdiesel] Starter problems-vw rabbit diesel pickup

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

  Diesel starter is 2hp, gas starter is a fraction of a hp.  That shouldn't
make it simply go clunk and not turn.  The clunk is the solenoid pulling 
but then not engaging the starter.
  Put a test light to the bottom, large nut on the solenoid and then 
turn the key to see if the solenoid is making the electrical contact 
when it pulls back.  If that's hot with the key on and "clunk engaged" 
then the starter's bad.  If that's not lit then check the top post, 
that comes from the battery.
  Oh, it could be a bad ground, which would make contact and still 
not crank so reverse your test light, (clip the wire to the + battery 
post) and check the block and starter for connection to ground.
Not uncommon to have a bad ground connection.
     Loren