Club 80-90 Forums

Hi folks.

Van starts fine when cold. When hot, particularly after a long run, he takes a lot of turning over before firing. Sometimes, this also comes hand in hand with the Starter Motor sticking or really slow turnover. When the starter motor sticks, i Have been able to usually tickle it back into life. Unfortunately after a drive up from west cornwall, it refused to restart in the queue for the Torpoint Ferry resulting in them turning me away. After a bump start and a long round trip via the Tamar Bridge, I got home. Guess what - he started
So in short - cold starts fine, hot start starter sticks - any thoughts ? starter bearing? cables? battery? As a side note, the starter sounds a bit rattly when turning over

Lazy starter would be my guess.Refurb or renew would be my advice..

Thanks Rob, that was my first thought but sometimes the starter flies except when hot. Anyway plan is to get underneath at the weekend and clean up the connections to see if it makes a difference. Might change cables too.

If you're looking for poor connections, you could try operating the starter in the pitch dark. Bad connections often show up as little firework displays.
Be careful in the dark though!

If its a Bosch starter it can be completely rebuilt.
My non starter cost £30 to renew the solenoid.
Water ingress caused a terminal to oxidise and it was worse when hot.
Dont forget the bush!

Bush! That's what I meant. Not bearing. Mental block there somewhere. Had a look tonight and a bit oxidized around external terminals but not excessive. I'll try and post pics later. Also one of small body retaining screws on the back of the motor was completely loose. Can't help. Typically started ok tonight but still lazy. Think I'll try and limp through September - too much on and mostly local - then whip it out in October and clean everything up to see where we are.

So finally got Flickr to work!
Couple of pics. Note the loose body screw in first pic

20170830_175206 by Tom Sawyer, on Flickr

The main cable has either been replaced or cut back at some point - it now has a clamp connector. Other wires are not great.

20170830_180545 by Tom Sawyer, on Flickr

Whist writing, should there be a rubber bump stop in the short metal cylinder inside and at the top of the coil spring (rear) - like this: https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/bump-stop-t3-rear.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- noticed whilst jacked up mine doesn't!

Good item in wiki about this. I have same issue. Lived with it for a while. (Kept hammer in van)
The zero at ignition is definitely solenoid. I'm wondering if that's the hot start issue too. I say this as I have the same cold/hot start issues. Today, I've got my starter back from repair. Reliable repair man said starter was fine, just needed a solenoid. So thinking out loud, as the solenoid gets hot, it expands and hasn't got enough guts (as it's end of life) to throw the electro-magnet.

The bush will certainly have an effect on hot starting if its dry and/or worn. That said, you might like to read: https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/VW ... ain_cables" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; as most original vehicles are at the end of life with respect to main cables. Voltage drop a-plenty

http://vincewaldon.com/index.php?option ... &Itemid=28" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


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^^^Good words about removing the bush, but always easier on a bench! Should be able to do it standing up tho. on ours, he says hopefully.


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a very hard challenge getting this puppy out!

Is this done?
Now it isNew bush

Battery @ 12.9V but turned key today and nothing. New Solenoid. Eventually after several attempts heard click and then it finally fired? Any ideas?


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DoubleOSeven wrote: Battery @ 12.9V but turned key today and nothing. New Solenoid. Eventually after several attempts heard click and then it finally fired? Any ideas?

Ignition switches are a known failing on the T25, often it's just the signal wire though ... water runs along the cable and corrodes the terminal. I replaced our cable back to shiny copper and heat shrinked all the junctions.

Ian