Starter Solenoid?

[tabbytiger23]

i want to check my starter solinoid as sometimes i turn my key and nothing happens then i turn off and turn on again and it starts up.

BUT........ where is it?

[The Reverend Pimp Daddy]

on the starter itself

[tabbytiger23]

on the starter itself

this might sound terrible but wheres that?

[jamesc76]

If you dont know you sure your gonna be able to do owt once you look at it???

Its on the gearbox/rear of engine near the offside rear wheel! Fault sounds like it could be the start switch also!

[tabbytiger23]

If you dont know you sure your gonna be able to do owt once you look at it???

Its on the gearbox/rear of engine near the offside rear wheel! Fault sounds like it could be the start switch also!

hmmm ok i am a novice.
Trying my best to learn hehe!
but perhaps this job might be too much for me?

[jamesc76]

Do you have a haynes manual? Being a novice is fine all have to start somewhere, but look though the search button under starter there will be tonns of info to have a crack at!

[tabbytiger23]

yes i got myself a haynes manual first thing i did when i got the van,

and i seen someone had writen that there soliniode just needed a dusting and then the van started fine, so i was only looking at trying that not anything massve just a small job.

i love my van to much to try anything tooooo big

thanks for your help James

[jamesc76]

Your welcome, just make sure you disconnect the battery first as there is a thick perm live wire to the starter, earth that out and you will know about it !!!

[tabbytiger23]

Your welcome, just make sure you disconnect the battery first as there is a thick perm live wire to the started earth that out and you will know about it !!!

LOL! ok you'v scared me enough to perhaps just take it to the VW doctor at my garage!

[tabbytiger23]

can someone explain the order of what happens after you turn your key?

as i can see the ignition system = battery, igintion coil, distributer and spark plugs, but can some one tell me including starter solenoid and starter motor?
As i am having trouble on starting and have illiminated starter solinoide and starter motor and im not sure if im write or wrong in thinking its the iginition coil, my method in thinking is when i turn the key sometimes i just here the starter solinoid click, but no turnover, but if it was the ignition coil wouldnt the starter motor still try to start?

i bought the coil already as i thought it might be that but after thinking a bit harder about it now im not too sure!

[kevtherev]

if you hear a click and it does not turn over my monies on a poor earth contact or poor contacts to the starter
the solenoid is like a gate, which lets very large current to the starter.
the gate is closed by the ignition switch in the cranking position, a small current is passed to the solenoid, where it excites a magnet with a T bar in the middle, the current pulls the T bar down to two big terminals and allows the current to flow to the starter

There's also a braided earth wire on the starter that crumbles to dust, and another earth on the gearbox nose

best remove it and clean up the contacts.

[tabbytiger23]

Thanks kev! much appreciated, i will have a look

[Red Westie]

Hi Kev....the braided earth wire that goes between the solenoid and motor is the positive feed for the motor...
I agree...they do disapear to nothing..

The most common starter fault tends to be a poor terminal/contact (spade connector) switch wire to the solenoid. This is either very loose, corroded or just about broken off the wire so usually needs tightening (crimping together) cleaning or replacing altogether.

There are also a host of other possible problems ie:
Braided earth cable on the nose of the gearbox corroded etc
Faulty solenoid (internal contacts badly pitted)
Armature bushes worn out
Ignition switch fault
Battery terminals not secure or poor connections
Faulty battery
Martin