Free spinning starter?

[Doug]

The moisture is on the shaft of the starter that the drive gear slides along, Tyler. The clutch housing is independent of the transmission. Possibly lubricating the starter shaft and drive gear with a light lubricant could help. You haven't been doing any water crossings recently, have you? Warmer temperatures and a nice day long drive under drier conditions will likely chase out the moisture.

[burn_your_money]

The moisture is on the shaft of the starter that the drive gear slides along, Tyler. The clutch housing is independent of the transmission.

I understand that, but I figure everything would get pretty warm and would hopefully drive out the moisture. I'll know when it gets cold again I guess. I'm ultimitly trying to not have to remove the starter, so lubricating it is out of the question, if I removed it I would replace it.

[LeeG]

No bendix on these starters, the solenoid kicks the gear out to engage the flywheel.  Either its not doing that becaues its cold and stiff or you have missing teeth on flywheel.  Probably the first, it probably isnt kicking it far enough.

Cold tranny oil WILL slow your engine down when you drop the clutch.  
At -40C you will need to rev the motor up and ease the clutch out or it will stall.  I used to make a point of leaving my truck's tranny in first and transfer case in nuetral when I parked overnight.  Then I could run out and start it, ease out the clutch and go inside while the motor and gears warmed up.  Otherwise the shift forks were too stiff to move, so you had to sit out there freezing with your foot on the clutch for a few minutes until enough engine heat made it to the tranny.

[burn_your_money]

The reason why I posted about my engine slowing down was because it was such a large drop, usually (at the same temperature) it's a much more subtle drop

[Jetta Fan]

How'd you make out Tyler?