is my starter toast? (pbly already know the answer)

[tberk@mindspring.com (T Berk)]

> Jeff Toomasson wrote:
> 
> When I got into my 16v at lunch, I turned the key and the cranking was
> screeching much like worn belts..   UGGHHH!
> 
> It actually started and ran without problems. An hour later after
> lunch the starter was even noiser and laboring much like when the
> battery is drained...(though the battery is less than a year old and
> of the highest cranking amps available). I'm sure I'll have a better
> idea when I leave in a few minutes...
> 
> The thing is, it just happened all of a sudden. No warning, no
> nothing...Welcome back to Scirocco ownership, folks!
> 
> Looks like I'm driving the cabby for the rest of the week (not a bad
> thing except that my stock cat-back has rusted apart - can you say
> header? (well, not really...)
> 
> JT



- Solenoid sounds like it's gears are getting work on the edges.

- Solenoid sounds like it's plunger is getting 'sticky'. Hi-Temp Grease,
not oil spray.

- Power to Starter (& Solenoid) can be down which can lead to failure to
engage. We want -Clamp!- not 'clamp'.

#3 means corrosion reduction & larger gauge cable can help transfer the
power to where we want it to go.

- Lastly there is the "Oh My God Becky!", "My Starter Bolts are Loose!"
Even if tight loosen them, work the starter around some and rebolt to
spec. Why? Better metal to metal contact, better alignment than before
perhaps, and hell, why not just do it.

TBerk