Intermittent Starting Problem
 

This past week my car has not started on a few occasions. Everything works as normal (fuel pump on etc.) except the starter does not turn sometimes. My solution has been to put the car in gear and roll it back a few inches and then hit the ignition and the starter engages, turns and it fires right up. What is happening here?

You might do a search on the starter solenoid.

Joe

I have done a search and found all sorts of info and tests to check it out. But why would rolling the car solve the problem every time?

I am not sure but I had a similar problem a little while ago. In my research I found that sometimes the teeth on either the starter or the flywheel get worn or broken causing them not to mesh correctly. That would make sense since moving it backward would move the teeth a little. My problem turned out to be the starter, which i fixed only after it took about half an hour to start one time when i was a couple hundred miles away from home.

What would cause the teeth to be worn out or broken? I have never engaged the starter while the engine was already running. Could it just be gunked up and a good cleaning of the area would help, do I need to lube the area or is there an adjustment? This problem just arose out of no where.

I dont konw what could cause it, I just remembered reading about it and thought it may apply to your situation. I guess it could get gunked up or just worn out. Hopefully someone that knows more about it will chime in. Just thought it may be something to check before you spend 200 on a new starter.

BD,

Has the car ever been to a shop ... out of your eyesight range for any repairs or service??? The abuse some clueless kids put customer cars through ... out of ignorance or 'just plain fun' ... can be mind-boggling!

Given that the Bosch SR-17X stasrter is a VW part, and cheap, I suggest getting a spare and try substituting it the next time the propblem, occurs! Be sure to leave the engine at the same exact rotation spot where the problem happened, and examine the flywheel very, very carefully before replacing the starter! If you find any ground-away spots, or mangled flywheel teeth ... you have your answer.

Re: Intermittent Starting Problem
 

so you hear the solenoid slaming and spinning but no engine spin ?

OR you turn the key and don't hear anything ?

No, I am the only one that has touched the car since I purcahased it over a year ago.

When I go to turn the key to start I here a click (the solenoid?) and the engine does not spin and I don't hear the starter spin either. If I roll back a foot it fires right up, the two times it hasn't started this solved the problem.

Should I note the position of the pulley when this occurs? Everything has been working great, I just rebuilt the carbs and planned to take the car to Monterey (and back) this month and time is running out.

Anyone?

but a new starter. it isnt worth the hassle of beign stuck.....

I'd try a solenoid jump when this happens again. Maybe extending a couple of 10ga wires down from the starter would be more convient when this happens again. This will provide good info.

it's a hassle to repeat this no-start game with a new starter. The ignition "start" wiring is a convoluted connector pia to begin with imo.

The click I here when I turn the key is the solenoid correct? Since the rolling the car back a foot or so works it's probably an issue with the teeth is that correct as well?

I am going to get under there and take a look at the teeth when I get home.

yes

and unless you drop the starter you can't confirm bad teeth.. as long as your dropping the starter you might as well regrease the plunger, etc w/ hi-temp silicon grease. Warren has good details if needed.