Vanagon starter *weak or slow start - fixed* how to install
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Purchased at GoWesty, I'm loving this new starter. My original was going bad and draining the battery. Check out the install.
***Update comment on install from a wise viewer: Looking at the instructions and seeing what the engineers had in mind, this is not an issue. The old Torx bolt and nut required 2 people, as you pointed out. What should have been done, using the GoWesty bolt, is to insert the bolt from the engine compartment side, which is passthrough and then use the threaded mount to tighten it down. This requires no nut on the end and can be completed by one person.
this is my tomorrow.. thanks for the video. that star thingy is a torqx!
You also need to put a late model positive battery cable on . It’s twice as thick . Van Cafe sells them
I just purchased and completed the install. Excellent video by the way but I wanted to address the issue you highlighted with the pass through bolt not being drilled out correctly. Looking at the instructions and seeing what the engineers had in mind, this is not an issue. The old Torx bolt and nut required 2 people, as you pointed out. What should have been done, using the GoWesty bolt, is to insert the bolt from the engine compartment side, which is passthrough and then use the threaded mount to tighten it down. This requires no nut on the end and can be completed by one person
Thanks again for making such a quality video.
Haaa, thanks for the heads up on the bolt! Still, the instructions were lacking! Great job to you 👍🎉. And thanks for the kind words.
I'll update the text on my video to include your comment on the bolt.
Looking into this myself. We have a Syncro and to just add, the threaded section on the mounting plate is required for the Syncro installs as the engine side access looks to be the only way to mount the new starter. Thanks for the video.
Excellent videos on the Westfalia, I am subscribing I just got an 86 Westfalia 4 weeks ago and slowly replacing old worn out parts.
Sweet! Definitely focus on replacing the hoses. My hoses blew up and fried the engine.
Thanks for watching and subscribing.
Was able to avoid taking off air box and throttle body by using two 6in- 3/8 extensions and one 3in- 3/8 extension with 17 metric socket. The socket extensions were maneuvered and connected one at a time under the manifold intake hoses from the front to reach both the nut to remove the old starter and the new bolt head to secure the new starter in place. Requires some agility with the tools but worked very well (used a 7mm hex to secure the old bolt when removing). At day one, the starter really is an improvement over the tired Bosch rebuilt unit that was only 2 years old.
Replaced my starter with a brand new one, it had a slow weak start, sometimes after a good drive stop to fill up and it barely wants to start. What the heck right? my issue was the ignition harness plug. I remembered disconnecting mine to swap out the wiper arm mechanism. It was not plugged in all the way, Starts right up like yours does now. My battery is brand new and fully charged too. Of course there are many reasons, sometimes it's the grounds, it's the battery terminals etc...
Each one is a snowflake ❄️ ha!
Indeed, ❄❄@@smidgelife
Don’t drill
What size was that weird bolt thing your friend had? T50?
I wish I could remember.... I bet if you reached out to GoWesty they would know
Helpful. Thank you.
Two years later I have to comment for anyone looking for answers on TH-cam and coming across this well made video. The reason the hole is threaded is because someone at GoWesty thought the German engineering needed to be bettered, a common mistake people do on old VWs. The VW way was beautiful because of its efficient simplicity. The bolt had an almost circular head but with a truncated part resting on the starter body making it impossible to rotate when loosening or tightening the nut at the other end of it inside the engine compartment. This allowed a one man operation, you loosen the nut, then go under the car and remove the bolt by pulling it towards the front of the van. GoWesty wants you to remove too many parts to slide the bolt from the engine compartment, arguing that it will make future removal easier... It will not and it makes it sound like you will have to replace that starter they just sold you often enough to justify additional initial work, not exactly reassuring... I ended up also drilling through the threading to allow that bolt to be pushed from the front to the back of the van like in the original setting. That said the author of the video should have read the instruction coming with the starter and would have seen it wasn't a mistake GoWesty made, just a bad idea they had. In conclusion: before modifying any VW engineering, understand the whys and hows things ended up what and where they are. You'll surely end up liking the simple and efficient solution and will appreciate your German antique even more
Thanks for the comment! Take care
@@smidgelife I have a question for you: Did you remember if you had to remove the bushing before installing the GoWesty starter? I just mounted mine, it sits tight but is not catching....
@@kailuafrog I did not remove the bushing. I think a westie said you could take it out or leave it in.
@@smidgelife Thank you
Hmmmmm.......sounds like a Denso starter. Are the NOS starters discontinued?
Not sure this one's a go westie
Instead of complain about some one else's starter how about you get a rebuild kit and rebuild your old one? MUCH much cheaper btw.
You're not wrong. However, that's something I'm just not prepared to do at this time. Also, the GoWesty starter does have the following upgrades:
Product highlights:
• More powerful
• More reliable
• Exclusive mounting flange ensures ample clearance-even in the Syncro model with locking differential
• Exclusive bolted-on trigger wire design
• Self-supported shaft design
Just like with computers... upgrades are part of the fun.
I’m a bit confused. When removing the long bolt, of the original starter, does that bolt require a Torx wrench or an Alan wrench for removal?
I see comments using both terms, but those are different tools.
You use a Torx in the video, what size was it? Looks large.
Thanks for any input
From what I recall it's an Allen wrench. I feel like torx came after that... timing wise.
Watched some other vids. Sounds like it’s a 7mm torx.
Your vid is super helpful. Now just waiting for GW to get them in stock again.
Hi where can I get the same starter , my bus is a 1990 model micro 2.1 auto
Same mines been running 2 day straight no issues drove to work today try and started later just clicks want turn over. Battery is good I have no clue what's up I'm hoping it's the starter
thank you for this! saved me some time watching this first.
You're welcome yeah this was quite the challenge. I'm glad it helped thanks for watching.
I just finished the install today. I have the same 1984 Vanagon GL Camper /Westfalia. (same color scheme too - mine is probably a bit more tired than yours). I installed the same GoWesty high output starter. Some notes from that experience: I also had to drill out the threaded upper bolt hole in the new starter. I ended up talking to a guy at Ace Hardware who quite accurately led me to the 8mm Allen attachment with a 3/8 drive. The 8mm Torx wrench attachment also worked - but I think it really just needed the Allen. Once I got the upper bolt off - things went much better. Minor aside: I noticed that the GoWesty starter does not mate 100% with the old opening - or so it appears. It still works fine - but it seemed to lack the same width. I don't know if there is risk of introducing crud from the road - if ever so slightly. It is barely an issue - if it is even one. For some reason, my socket did not fit quite right using the bolt supplied by GW. As it was getting late - I was a bit tired and went with the old bolt I knew worked fine. (used the OLD upper bolt and the old upper bolt nut) I was able to hold the nut with my finger and used the Allen socket to tighten it down nicely. I hope there is not some kind of corrosion between the different metals.
The starter definitely cranks REALLY NICE. There is no doubt that this is a solid functioning unit.
You should be proud of yourself, that's not easy! Glad the video helped. 😅
@@smidgelife The video helped to spur this on...really appreciated!
@@oldgadfly8398 glad I could help!!! Yes, I wish I had this video when I did it 😅👍
@@smidgelife Seriously. It's interesting how there is no bushing on the GW starter.
Stop this nonsense with internal combustion engines. Electric vehicles are here, and they are the future. We have one a and loving it. No maintenence, no gas stations, no fumes, no noise, no vibrations, 200-300 mile range and 120+ MPG. 200 HP, 0-60 in 6 seconds. It doesn't get much better than that 😜
Agreed. I'm starting to see true conversions from gas to electric. I look forward to someone offering up an electric conversion kit for the Westy.
@@smidgelife Great idea! I'm in.