[Vwdiesel] Need Good Ground

[William J Toensing]

I will share with you what happened yesterday & today with my 2001 Ford Focus as this could have just as easily happened with a VW. Yesterday, I went to the Galt, CA old car show which is unique in that entries are limited to stock prewar cars, that is cars that are 1942 & older. Would have driven my 1941 Ford but it has a leaky water pump. 
When I went to start my Focus, I heard clicking, but the starter wouldn't engage. Attempted a jump start but still wouldn't start. Routinely, the Focus has a manual transmission so with a push, it started & I was able to get home OK.
So, today I planned to pull the starter but first I wanted to check out the solenoid but found it was in about the most inaccessible part of the engine. Whoever designed that location for the starter, should be required to R&R one hundred Focus starters. Before tackling that job, I decided to take another look at the battery ground terminal even though I found no corrosion on it. However upon removal I found corrosion on the inside. Fortunately, Lady Luck was on my side as upon thorough cleaning of the battery ground post & terminal it easily started. I also I could get some help from my OBD 2 reader but got a zero reading. Moral: Before assuming the worst, check your battery connections first, even if they look good at first glance.
Bill Toensing, Nevada City, CA