Automatic Car... How to solve a problem

[marc at getty.net (Marc Getty)]

Mmmm, frantic young 22 year old.....

-Marc


-----Original Message-----
From: scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org
[mailto:scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org] On Behalf Of Patrick Bureau
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 9:40 PM
To: 'Scirocco List'
Subject: Automatic Car... How to solve a problem


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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