Solenoid problem --Can't start the van......

Post by **futurecut** » 19 Aug 2007, 16:54

I was using a break in the rain to renew a hose clip to my heater pipes and when removing my inspection lamp the hook managed to pull out a thick red and black wire with it from around the solenoid/starter area. It looks like the plastic connector attached has come away with the lug due to corrosion but i can't se exactly where from. It may be from below and right of main starter cable - it does read +12v on ignition.

Trouble is i thought i'd whip off the solenoid and get a better look - maybe solder on a new tab or make a fix BUT what were VW thinking attaching it with bloody phillips screw heads? Mashed two of them trying to remove so now i'm scunnerred unless i either remove the whole starter or take the carb off and get in with a drill or easy outs (which i don't have)

So anyway - the question is: Does the +12v lead from the group in that area fix to the back of the solenoid?
Any tactics?

Cheers

Post by **HarryMann** » 19 Aug 2007, 17:30

Dunno, but if you have a lead in your hands and a broken tab on the back of the solenoid I'd assume they go together..

and its not normal to take the solenoid off the starter in situ, AFAIK, so to do a good job remove starter (lucky its not a Syncro!!!) and look at it closer in the comfort of a shed/workshop/ kitchen

Post by **Dan Wood** » 19 Aug 2007, 20:34

Dunno what you mean by 'thick' wire, but IIRC the signal wire from my bus was black with a red stripe on.... It's not the big fat wire that carries starter current though.

Anyway, mine corroded and stopped working and when I pulled it off the spade came with the terminal.

Now, not sure if they're all like this but on closer inspection the solenoid had two spades on the same terminal (in an L shape) so all I had to do was cut off the old connector and fit a new one and shove it on the 'spare' spade. Looking at the back of the solenoid in situ, this spade was on the right hand side of the solenoid.
(There was also a spade on the left, but it didn't work when I shoved the wire there!)

Sorry, no pics.

Post by **HarryMann** » 19 Aug 2007, 20:42

Yup, the 'thick wire' confused me too Dan, as that 'really' thick wire would be Red throughout or maybe black and the main starter current feed wire..

Possibly the solenoid trigger wire is though 'a bit thicker than being really thin'

Post by **andysimpson** » 19 Aug 2007, 21:00

Red/black is soleniod wire.

Post by **HarryMann** » 19 Aug 2007, 21:04

Grassyarse monsignor

Post by **futurecut** » 20 Aug 2007, 13:09

By thick i meant 30Aish load capable not cranking amps! Maybe i'm the thick one. I will have to look at the double tab thing - problem is maybe both have come away as i couldn't locate the tab or where it broke from on the solenoid - hence not knowing where it came from.