Club 80-90 Forums

Hi

I’m based in Leicester and am having issues starting my van (1981 1.6 diesel westfalia)
I’m really struggling to find the route cause of this issue
Battery fully charged had new starter motor which - after checking / replacing/ adding additional earth & checking that there was power reaching it - assumed was issue and have had it replaced..still nothing when key is turned
I’m really keen to out and about so just wondered if any of you good folk could recommend a mobile mechanic / auto electric specialist, ideally Leicester based to diagnose the cause
It was running until tail end of last year and just stopped!
The van had been in a garage for over 20 years prior to me gaining possession so I am more than ready for things to fail but I just don’t have the skills to work this one out

Cheers
Will

Ignition switch ?

Maybe the ignition switch. Have you tried jumping the starter by shorting across the battery and ignition terminals with a screwdriver, or a wire direct from battery to the ignition terminal on starter, with ignition on?  If it turns over/starts then I'd start looking at the ignition switch and/or associated wiring. 
If still not turning over, then possibly your battery is the issue, despite apparently taking a charge. Have you tried a jump start?

Thanks both…I’ll be investigating these points today and will feedback

Got to the bottom of this
Even though battery charger was indicating that battery was fully charged it wasn’t
Jumped it…fired up straight away … tested battery charger…duff
Turns out that alternator was jiggered too
New battery charger, battery charged and alternator sorted by local company for £40… all now hunky dory
Thanks for the pointers