Club 80-90 Forums

hi again everyone, still struggling a little getting to grips with my new van and her little idiosyncracies....I'm totally inexperienced and am learnign as I go with this, so apologies again for any daft questions.

1984 Petrol 2.0 Watercooled Autosleeper

I've had her for a few weeks and haven't really driven her much but the first few weeks she ran and started fine. I've fixed a leaking fuel hose and have spotted a very slight leak from the underneath cooling hose that I will soon be fixing, but apart from that nothing too serious.

The latest niggle is that she won't start unless I jump start her.

I've read lots of posts on her about starting problems but nothing that really matches my exact problem.

Once the battery has had a decent charge and the leads are removed I can start her easily, so I'm guessing that there is no problem with the starter motor or solenoid etc. However quite soon after the charge, and she has been left a little while, the battery is flat again. The lights won't work etc. I've also noticed that when I nudge the igntion barrell with the engine idling it cuts out. I'm not sure that this related but you never know...

When she's dead I can hear a slight "click" when I turn the ignition but nothing else, and the engine is certainly not trying to turn over. There's fuel in the tank and no obvious drain on the battery. Is this a classic case of a dead battery that needs repalcing.

I'm proposing to jump start her again tonight and take her for a drive to give the battery a really good charge. If she fails to start after this what would the next step be.

cheers
Matt

Hi Matt,

remove your battery, charge, and leave standing for 24 hours. Then test...is it still ok?

If you have a multi-meter, what is the charge when you crank the engine....if it falls below 9v it aint gonna start!

Maybe try taking the battery to somewhere like Halfords where they can test it for you?

Mocki said once that it takes 45 mins of driving to really put back what you take out when you start it....I was amazed, as I only do 20 mins to work!

Em
xx

thanks Em
I'll try the drive it & charge it and let you know. If it doesn't work I'll try and get my hands on a battery charger.

matt

Alternator charge regulation works on potential difference (the difference between the battery and alternator charge voltage)...ie; the more charged the battery becomes the greater the reduction there is in charge rate (as the PD decreases)
So in theory, a 25% charged battery might take only 5 - 6 minutes of driving to reach 50% but another 20 minutes to reach 75% and perhaps a further hour to reach 90% and two hours more to finally achieve 100%.

The charge rate decreases as the battery is charged.
I think most people assume a 65ah alternator pushes 65amps into the battery all the time until the battery is 100% charged. Where as the reality is at 90% battery charge the alternator might only be pushing out 5 - 10 amps.

Martin

blunderbus84 wrote: I've also noticed that when I nudge the igntion barrell with the engine idling it cuts out. I'm not sure that this related but you never know...

Without going into the other fault(s) you need to replace your ignition switch ... they are cheap. http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=120 Then see if the same things are happening.

Ian

Thanks Ian

i'll add that to my to-do list.

cheers
Matt

blunderbus84 wrote:Thanks Ian

i'll add that to my to-do list.

cheers
Matt

It'd be an idea to start with a known good switch before you set out trying to track down the other issue(s)

Are yes Holmes elimination..
A sure fire cast iron process, that will fix any complex broken thing

[/quote]

Without going into the other fault(s) you need to replace your ignition switch ... they are cheap. http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=120 Then see if the same things are happening.

Ian[/quote]

I've been trying to find out how to fit a new ignition switch but can't find anything in the Wiki. There seems to be some form of hexagonal plug going into the old switch. Does this just pull out and then the old switch is then unbolted and replaced with the new one or am i missing something?

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/VW ... ion_Switch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

?

with piccies -

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/repla ... 80660.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

edoh wrote:with piccies -

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/repla ... 80660.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks. Dont know why i couldn't find that!

Anyway now i know it is not as straight forward as i had hoped for.!

The switch needs sorting but if you are going for a drive pop into somewhere that fits batteries and ask them to test yours.

Could also be a faulty earth. Try undoing your earth strap, sanding and tightening up.

Could be something draining your battery. If all is going well, after your drive, disconnect the battery leads until you go to use it tomorrow. Connect up and see if it works.

i cant elp meself!

https://club8090.co.uk/forum./viewtopic. ... 417691ff63" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;