[T3] no start -- but just drove it!

[Bryon Garvin]

Did the quarter test this morning.  Starter turned.  That scared the
bejezus out of me even though I was ready for it.  Anyway, now I'd just
like to be extra sure about my test here.  I put a probe to the small wire
(disconnected now) at the starter and test for voltage as I turn the key to
start.  I get nothing.  That is supposed to have 12v correct?

So, assuming that wire is bad (or ignition switch).....I can now put a clip
lead on the lug where that wire went, touch the other end to the (+)
battery terminal, and the starter should spin.  Yes?  That's essentially
the same thing as using the quarter right?  I just want to confirm that
everything is still working before I proceed with tracking down the bad
wire.

I guess the main question I'm asking is that the ignition switch is
supposed to send 12V to the starter, right?

Thanks,

 - Bryon

On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 11:46 AM, Bryon Garvin <spinningrooves at gmail.com>wrote:

> Question:
>
> crawled under the car to do the starter check this morning.  I
> accidentally let the small wire from the front of the car touch the big
> wire/lug from the battery when I removed it.  I heard a noise up above,
> kind of maybe where the battery is located?
>
> Did I mess anything up?  Something I should check to see if I blew a fuse
> or anything?  I was taking care, but it just sprung toward the lug when it
> slipped out of my hand.
>
> Thanks,
>
>  - Bryon, '71 Fastback
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 4, 2012 at 7:35 AM, Jim Adney <jadney at vwtype3.org> wrote:
>
>> On 3 Feb 2012 at 11:52, Bryon Garvin wrote:
>>
>> > Well, the car sat after this episode until today.  I finally have the
>> > time and weather to deal with it.  One question though, if I get under
>> > the car (not in gear! ) and try the "quarter procedure" and the car
>> > *doesn't*start, I assume then that I have a starter problem.  If that's
>> > the case, does the starter have to come off to do further analysis?
>>
>> I would check a couple more things before pulling the starter. For
>> these, you need a voltmeter or a test light. (A test light just
>> checks for the presense or absense of voltage: the light is on or off
>> (or dim.)
>>
>> Gearshift in NEUTRAL!
>>
>> NOTE: Any time you put a wrench to a nut that has + battery voltage
>> on it, you must remove the battery ground strap first!
>>
>> Get a friend to help with the key. Crawl under the car and find a
>> clean place to clip your ground lead. Check that this is good by
>> touching the other lead to the large cable from the battery.
>>
>> Have the friend turn the key to START, while you put your probe on
>> the lug on the solenoid where the ignition switch wire comes from the
>> front. You should see voltage there when the key is turned to START.
>>
>> Put your probe on the LUG on the end of the large main cable from the
>> battery. You should see voltage there even when the key is turned to
>> START. If not, R/R both battery post connections. Check again. If it
>> still isn't good, your battery may be the problem.
>>
>> Put the probe on the end of the STUD the large lug above connects to.
>> There should be voltage there even when the key is turned to START.
>> If not, loosen and retighten the nut on that stud. Add some grease
>> there to keep out moisture.
>>
>> If all these things check out okay, remove the battery ground strap
>> and then the starter. It's probably the starter brushes. Most of the
>> time they just need to be freed up where they slip in their guides,
>> but eventually they need to be replaced. There are special brushes
>> for the Bosch starter motors with alum field windings. I don't think
>> you'll find them anywhere else, but I think I still have some.
>>
>> The special brushes don't come with copper pigtails attached. They
>> come with a hole in the brush that is metalized. You crush the old
>> brush with a pair of pliers and insert the end of the old pigtail in
>> the hole and solder it in.
>>
>> You CAN use normal brushes with pigtails, but you have to use a
>> solder and flux that will work with alum. Normal flux will not work.
>>
>> --
>> *******************************
>> Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
>> Madison, Wisconsin, USA
>> *******************************
>>
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>
>
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