[Vwdiesel] Still having starting issues with the 82 vanagon diesel

Wed Sep 16 19:49:29 PDT 2009

I was going to say the same thing, but I'll add in my bus, the switch was still iffy, so even with the relay it didn't always work (if you jiggled the wires just right it might start).  This was a result of the ignition coil grounding out once.  

So, I bought a cheapy horn button and bolted it to the ignition column and now use it to trigger the relay.

Works every time.

Dave Cook

--- On Wed, 9/16/09, Erik Lane <eriklane at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Erik Lane <eriklane at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Still having starting issues with the 82 vanagon diesel
> To: "Bryan Belman" <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>
> Cc: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 3:49 PM
> Oh, that changes things. If doing
> that always starts it then your
> wires are just fine. At least the battery ones. You're just
> not
> getting enough power from the small wires going all the way
> up to the
> ignition switch and back. Put a small relay in the engine
> compartment
> and have that controlled by the ignition switch and then
> have the
> output of the relay power the starter solenoid. That way
> only a very
> small switching signal needs to go the length of the van
> and back. It
> should be pretty easy to do and not cost much.
> 
> Erik
> 
> On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 8:33 AM, Bryan Belman <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> > Yeap, I forgot to mention that a wire from
> the solinoid extra tab, or the remote start trick from the
> back of the van, ALWAYS start the van on 1/2 a rotation. 
> So, I am pretty sure my battery has enough emmph and the
> starter is good.
> >
> > I will go with removing the ends from my battery
> cables, cleaning them up, as my positive cable does not have
> much extra but I could cut some off the neg. then have
> autozone crimp new ends on them.
> >
> > thanks all, that should do it for good and would
> explain a good bit of this issue.  I would love to get my
> original ignition switch to work again, as I do not think it
> is fried, just tired, but to change it is a big task,
> removing steering wheel and all of that stuff...ahh
> >
> >  Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
> > 04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :)
> > 92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel -- running :)
> > 82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- running :}
> > 70 Type 1 stock Beetle -- Not running :(
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Erik Lane <eriklane at gmail.com>
> > To: Bryan Belman <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>
> > Cc: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:19:45 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Still having starting issues
> with the 82 vanagon diesel
> >
> > To be absolutely sure that you have found your
> problem, check the
> > voltage drop from the cables with a meter while trying
> to start. Put
> > one lead from the meter at each end of one of the
> cables and measure
> > voltage while cranking. Then repeat for the other
> cable. Anything more
> > than .1 or .2V is suspect, I think. Definitely if
> you're seeing
> > anything like .5V or 1V drop in each cable you've got
> problems. If
> > you're thinking of having a cable made up I would make
> sure to get
> > something really heavy duty. I'm not sure an Autozone
> place would have
> > anything good enough. You want welding cable sizes.
> Really fat. If the
> > cable isn't frayed inside then I don't see how it
> would be bad in
> > there - likely just the ends have too much corrosion.
> If you get the
> > ends off of the cable and clean up the copper really
> well and have
> > some place put new ends on for you that will probably
> work. It wasn't
> > exactly cheap, but we picked up our own end crimper to
> be able to do
> > exactly that. We've reused quite a few cables very
> successfully by
> > replacing the ends.
> >
> > Erik
> >
> > On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 7:54 AM, Bryan Belman <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >> I am getting closer to finding this gremlin, I
> think battery cables are next.
> >>
> >> Here is what I have done,
> >> 1. load tested battery with a cheap load tester,
> but it says it is good, this is group 41 battery from my old
> Audi 200, 850CC AMP, it is good.
> >> 2. Cleaned all battery terminal ends, saw some
> green stuff on the end that connects to the starter, hit it
> with wire brush and put some sodder in there, this is the
> issue still, I think.
> >> 3. starting the van now with my original ignition
> switch almost 100% of the time, motor turns over but not
> fast enough to start I guess, seems to turn fine, but does
> not start.
> >> 4. using a new ignition switch and a screw
> driver, it starts right up when cold, every time.
> >> 5. Then when the motor is hot or warm, I get the
> same results using the original ignition switch still in the
> column.  plug into the new ignition switch, I get a clunk,
> I can hear the starter solenoid go clunk, but no start. 
> Try again, clunk.
> >>
> >> Now for the key........
> >> My temp sender to sense when the coolant temp is
> hot does not work or is the wrong one,  my glow plug relay
> does not get the signal and always has been cycling the 7
> seconds for the glows.  Yes, I need to fix this.
> >> So, when the motor is hot and I let the glow plug
> cycle complete, say 8 seconds, then the motor will turn
> over, no clunk of the starter solenoid.
> >>
> >> OK, this is certainly electrical.  Should I get
> new battery cables made up?
> >> Is there a certain size I should get for the
> diesel or do regular battery cables from any Autozone place
> work?
> >>
> >> Thanks, this is driving me nuts............... it
> has been an on-going issue for a long time but I have never
> swapped battery cables.........ahhh, that must be it.
> >>
> >>  Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
> >> 04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :)
> >> 92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel -- running :)
> >> 82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- running :}
> >> 70 Type 1 stock Beetle -- Not running :(
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Vwdiesel mailing list
> >> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> >> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> >>
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