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Old Volkswagon disease Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Another no-start, Phil B, Mon, 15 May 2006 18:42:32 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Here's a question - when you turn the key to START, do the dash lights dim and go out, or do they stay bright?
If the dash lights go out, my guess would be a poor connection between the battery post and the cable clamp. The resistance goes up when warm, so you don't have enough current to turn the starter motor. The lights dim because the entire system loses power right at the battery terminal. Clean the mating surfaces of the post/clamp (pull the clamp off and clean the INSIDE), and see if that helps.
If the dash lights stay bright, you have Old Volkswagon disease. Probably occurs in many cars, but I've seen it most often in the old air-cooled VWs. The starter solenoid contacts get gunked up with carbon over the years. The starter solenoid is actually a big relay, with contacts to connect the starter to the battery. And it's wedged under the exhaust manifold. When it gets hot, either the solenoid sticks, or the resistance of the contacts is such that it can't provide enough current to start the starter motor turning. The lights don't dim, because the only power loss is right at the starter.
The solution for a bad starter solenoid is to replace it.
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