[T3] No Start....but odd....

[Dave Hall]

The very large current the starter motor draws will certainly find out poor
connections in its circuit.  There is also an earth braid connecting the
transmission to the floorpan which is also a critical part of the starter
(and running) circuit so it would be worth doing the same thing there as you
did to the battery earth.  

It's possible that the starter motor itself could do with some attention,
but it doesn't sound as if it's the main culprit.  Slow turning does suggest
excessive voltage drop under load, which could be connections, or perhaps
less likely starter bush or internal problems with the solenoid or starter
motor.

You can add a relay by the battery which effectively does the shorting of
the connections you did manually underneath.  It also takes the solenoid
load off the starter switch, and the wiring is easily intercepted near the
battery.  


Dave.
UK VW Type 3&4 Club
-------------

-----Original Message-----
From: type3-bounces at lists.berkeley.edu
[mailto:type3-bounces at lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of J. Jonik
Sent: 03 November 2010 21:44
To: Type 3
Subject: [T3] No Start....but odd....

Today, in daylight...
--  Re-did the crossing, at solenoid, of battery connection to ignition
connection, but this time keeping the connection there for more than just a
fraction of a second. This time, it made the starter try to start the
engine.

-  Re-checked battery with the fluid tester..."gravity" something. All cells
perfect.
- Cleaned the battery terminals and their clamps.
- Made timing and point gap perfect.
- One connector going into the multiple connector plug under the ignition
switch was not locked into MPC.  I THINK it was still making contact with
its male mate though.  Fixed that.
 Still no start, no cranking.

Played with the horn, for diversion, as it wasn't working. Wondered if there
was some short there or elsewhere that was causing problems.  So---I took
off the battery ground strap at the body and did the check to see if it
sparked when contacting to the frame. No sparks. Cleaned and re-connected.

 After THAT...the car started right up!   It was a very mild crank...but it
got the thing going, without having to rev or anything.
 Tried again an hour later. Same thing...mildish crank and then start.

Incidentally, I do always just turn ignition switch to ON, not to start, to
prime up the gas.  I do it four or five times before trying to start.

So----------- Could that symptom be ONLY caused by faulty connection of
ground strap to frame? 
 And, by the way.... the horn now works too.




      
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