Dodge this!!!

[bxd]

I drove home on the highway in a rather spirited fashion after doing a day-long rally. It was a full day of aggressive driving and then about a 2-hour trip at-speed on the highway. Upon arriving home, I parked the car in my driveway with the engine off for a few minutes, then tried to start it again and got that ominous "click". -The fuel pump turned on, the batteries were fine, lights and gauges worked, but the engine didn't turn over. Then, after I let everything cool down overnight, I tried again and it started right up. I'm assuming this means I have a dodgy starter... and if I understand the problem correctly, the starter gets stuff in it, like dirt or debris, then it heats-up and expands, and then the piston can't move.

Problem is that I have a track day coming-up this weekend and the car will definitely heat-up to at least the temps it was the day when it didn't start, and probably hotter, and I don't want to get stranded at the track 3hrs from home after a long day. SO here's my question; should I replace the starter, or is there a relatively quick way to service my old one?

[edmayo]

If you have the standard 3/4 h.p. starter (Bosch rebuild nomenclature SR17-X ) then I would suggest replacing it with the 1.5 h.p. version (SR68-X) We tend to use those down here where you REALLY get heat soak in a starter after a highway trip. The SR-68 X seems to virtually eliminate hot start problems, of course with all the usual caveats about clean tight connections etc.

[Chuck Miller]

Listen to Ed.......

Did this switch-out about 15 years ago with no problems since....

[sithot]

Regards to Harvey Korman (Hedley Lamarr):

"Ditto".

Tom

[John Straub]

Had the same problem about about 25-30 years ago. I wanted to keep the original starter in the '65 so I took one of the ball bearings out and have never had a problem after that.

John

[kentf14]

I also had the same problem about 20 years ago on my '65.
I had driven up to LA from San Diego to meet up with a girlfriend that was out for an audition. She was staying at some swanky Beverly Hills hotel. Being 21 at the time, I made quite an entrance into the circular drive of said fancy hotel with the sports purpose exhaust wailing. When I went to make my grand exit... click...click.. no start
The front desk manager came out and knocked on my window. Too my surprise he said that this happens to the VWs back in his country all the time. He told me that he would push the car and that I should bump start it while turning the key to "start" this would free up the starter. Worked like a charm. I still have the image of the hotel manager pushing my car, wearing a suit with his leather soled shoes slipping and sliding on the paving stones of the hotel driveway. Apparently I wasn't embarrassed enough by this scene to fix the starter as I can recall 2-3 additional instances of people push starting the car for me.
But I digress, I eventually ended up changing the starter out and never had the problem again.

Go with the up-rated one recommended by Ed.

-Kent

[bxd]

Great story, Kent; and thanks for the excellent advice, Ed!

Anyone have any experience with this high-zoot starter over on the Bird?:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...0%281976-88%29

[blucille]

I've used this starter, no complaints, it works as described, great starting power, no heat soak, it certainly is lighter and easier to lift into position than the heavy bosch unit....it sounds kind-of ricer-ish.

[bxd]

hmmm.... "ricer-ish" isn't exactly the gestalt I'm seeking, so I thank you for that heads-up.

the SR68-X unit sounds like it'll do the trick.

[Chuck Miller]

My deal was it started 'acting up' back then but real inconsistently; couple of times on the street, once at the track, etc...
Then I was displaying the car at a Grand Prix Region PCA concourse at the Queen Mary Park.... and (you guessed it) had to be pushed (through the grass) for a start... ... Only then did I do anything about it.....