Waiting For AAA . . .

[jyl]

Just a vent post.

Drove vanagon to airport last night at 11 pm to pick up wife, son, and friends from their trip. Get everyone loaded up, van won't start. Turn key, hear loud click, no crank. Put them in taxis and send them home. Parking guys come and jump van. No dice. AAA has no tow trucks that can fit in the garage, at that hour of the night.

Come back next morning with a new battery and a few tools. Old battery 12.6v, uh oh. New battery makes no difference. Not the battery. Remove plug connector from ignition switch and jumper the starting circuit, still get the loud click but no crank. Not the switch. Whack starter and solenoid with a 22 mm wrench, the biggest thing I have handy, no difference. Main ground strap from transaxle to frame looks fine. Not really practical to do a whole lot more in the airport parking garage.

So I'm waiting for AAA. Going to have van towed home, check connections to starter, and, I'm guessing, end up replacing starter.

I'd rather have it towed to my VW guy to get some other stuff done at the same time, but he's having some personal problems, not really working. Shop they referred me to won't touch the van since it is an engine conversion. Once you do an engine swap, you're kind of on your own.

That's the vent.

[Joe Bob]

Did you try whacking the solenoid?

[Rot 911]

From the description it would appear that the starter itself is bad.

[stomachmonkey]

This is why I like standard transmissions.

[Baz]

Vent received and processed.



Now do you want to hear mine.......about 'fellow' contractors that don't have their $hit together......resulting in ME babysitting?

[herr_oberst]

Of course that stuff can't ever happen when the van is at home, so you could make another arrangement from the get go.

(Ironic, isn't it, that you were just saying that Mary thought you were a mechanical genius because of your troubleshooting ability with the Merkur (XR4ti)

[GH85Carrera]

Just be glad you are not waiting for AA to show up!

[island911]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

This is why I like standard transmissions.

+1

is that Vanagon an auto?

[jyl]

AAA guy brought a beeeg long heavy bar. That worked. My hitting it (starter) with a medium size wrench didnt.

So I drove it home, had a quick lunch, now am on the light rail back to the airport to retrieve the prius that I drove this morning.

Funny thing. During this otherwise irritating episode, I've had the nicest interactions with people. The parking lot attendant who tried to jump my car was a great guy, came from Cuba for years ago, loves his job and living in Portland, spent half an hour and called in more trucks, put three sets of cables on the old battery, then was really sad that it hadn't worked. The AAA guy was cheerful, super efficient, chatted about the best VW shops in town. The parking lot attendant was helpful when I realized I'd lost the ticket, got me paid up and out in no time. One Pelican, who I happened to be talking to on the phone as I tried to start the van, was really helpful and, if I'd had a big hammer, his advice would have worked. Another texted an offer to drive me back to the airport.

It's been a pretty good day, actually. I'm happy.

[Joe Bob]

I always have a BFH with me.....if YOU had one,.......%^)

[GH85Carrera]

My brother's daily driver is a 1952 VW bug. His "new" vehicle is a 1972 VW camper van. He has had each of them for over 40 years. In all those years any problems he has solved or rigged up a temporary fix to get back home. He has never once had to call a tow truck. If his wife drives the bug a mile or so it breaks down and he has to go get her. She quit driving either of his vehicles. She drives a Toyota.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Glad you got it going.

Waiting until tomorrow to see if the compressor goes tumbling downstairs.

[jyl]

Man, I'd pay the guys next door to move the compressor. That looks very sketchy to do with a come along. Esp because the compressor cost a bunch.

[MBAtarga]

Moving a compressor on a 10-15% incline is bad enough. I can't imagine a stairway!

[GH85Carrera]

What am I missing? That picture looks like a Porsche transmission, likely a 915. Why are you guys calling it a compressor?

[Scott Douglas]

Big yellow thing in the background?

Hey, is that a Harbor Freight moving dolly?

[Hugh R]

Shaun, don't tie knots in span sets it reduces their strength by overly bending the fibers. I'd also would have put some burlap or cardboard between the hook and the span set to spread the load. I get involved in a lot of heavy rigging for my work.

[TimT]

That looks very sketchy to do with a come along. Esp because the compressor cost a bunch.

Moving a compressor on a 10-15% incline is bad enough. I can't imagine a stairway!

I replaced the steam boiler in my house a few years ago... Sourced a new Weil-Mclain from a plumber friend for his cost...

Went medieval on the old boiler with a sledge.... clean up the mess and lingering asbestos ;-P

Got the new750# boiler down my old coal chute... using...a few slings, a come-a-along amd pinch bar...and knowledge that I have picked up observing the amazing Ironworkers and riggers who build NYC! They think 750# is something a few guys just pick up..

BFW hammer to a Bosch stater... check!!

[1990C4S]

I had the same problem with my boat starter Saturday. Can't get it off, can't get it to work...need to try a bigger hammer I guess.

[widebody911]

What I find funny is the last few starters I've bought have a big sticker on them saying "DO NOT STRIKE" and the international circle-with-a-line-through-it and a hammer.