Automatic Car... How to solve a problem

[area53 at validpath.com (Jeff Toomasson)]

I thought you were going to tell us it was still in "drive"...  :)

> So yesterday, a frantic young 22 year old that borrow my wife's car for
> a trip to Tulsa Oklahoma is calling me... " the car will not
> starrrrrrrt " So after chatting with her, she tries it one more time
> and luckily enough it does turn over and start , telling her to not
> turn it off until she gets back to her place, which she does and her
> trip finishes without a problem.
> 
> This morning... Put key in car... Nothing... Ni click, got lights and
> power , 12.5v on the battery, but refuses to crank over, so I dolly its
> lazy arse back to the farm, I stop by AutoZone that identified the
> battery after using their gismo tester machine that load it, that the
> battery has more than likely a bad cell... So the battery is marked 4
> years ago, cant hurt, slap a new battery in... Turn key... Nothing... 
> 
> So I grab the Bentley and test the ignition switch, well after the 4
> simple continuity test they tell me to do, conclusion.. Its not the
> ignition switch the problem..
> 
> So.. Since the "start my car systems" are simple.. And by using
> deduction, I decided to go to the last obvious location to check, the
> starter... Easy enough to check if it is itself or the solenoid still
> good (because anyone that has an automatic KNOWS they are a bitch to
> take off and change!). Find the starter harness, and VW has a nice
> little connection right there.. Wire it to the battery... And the
> engine starts cranking at proper speed. Conclusion # 3.. The starter is
> still good.
> 
> My fear getting worse by the minute I run the fact in my head, the
> battery, the switch the starter.. Was else could it be but the WIRING..
> Arrrrrgggggh I scream... The gremlins have gotten possession of my
> cabriolet.....
> 
> This is the TIME for you guys still reading this epic story to realize
> when all else fails in your step by step home troubleshooting.. Have a
> beer.. And if smoke... Time to light up... Sit by the side of the
> car... And think.... Why do I do this to myself... Why get .. Such an
> old car with all the usual problems they all get... And always at one
> point to become wiring
> gremlins..... 
> 
> <insert pause as my VW local mechanic drops buy to give me back a
> borrow fuel pump he needed to trouble shoot a client's of his
> cabriolet...>
> 
> Jaime! Have a beer.... Thanks Pat, so what the problem with the cabby
> he asks...<insert explanation written above>
> 
> He smile and goes, do you have some wire and a 40a relay... Sure I
> reply and fetch the stuff...
> 
> Sipping my bear he builds a Starter solenoid relay, as he explains (and
> people that have already done they euro light with relays will
> understand this bit) The wiring is too old and the starter tries to
> draw too much amperage on the skinny wire leading to and front the
> ignition switch, usually the switch dies first (and I promptly tell him
> that the PO had just changed it a few weeks ago),... So he built a
> relay, connected for power directly to the battery, and used the
> ignition wire, and patched the relay wires to it.. Fixed a little
> bracket with it.... And were done in 20 mins.
> 
> He smiles... There all fixed..... No more problems, being skeptical, I
> pause and have another beer and a smoke...(watching someone fix your
> car is tiresome buisiness yanno?) He chuckles and looks at me.. So you
> aint going to start her up.....?
> 
> I reach for the key... And "Half-Pint, as my wife calls it" turns right
> over and starts...
> 
> Cost.. Humm 6 beers... 1 hr of troubleshooting and 15 mins of making a
> relay for the starter.
> 
> It WAS a good day in Dallas today....
> 
> -
> ATS - Patrick Bureau - http://ats.longcoeur.com - 
> A1 eBay Sales: http://tinyurl.com/22e5b
> '85 3A/JH 2L Scirocco | '86 8v Restore Project (in progress) 
> '82 1.7L project |'81 S Project | '78 GTi 8v Project 
> 
> 
> 
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