Automatic Car... How to solve a problem

[mr.utility at highstream.net (David Utley)]

Been there, done that...  Ex-wifes' Cabby did the same, after a new starter, 
battery, battery terminals, etc....

Glad to hear that you ironed it out!

Regards,
  David Utley

Quoting Patrick Bureau <ats@longcoeur.com>:

> 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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David Utley
-----------
Cable Volkswagen
405-470-3129
1-800-522-6793