The symptoms you described are similar to one that I had with an 85 Rabbit a couple months ago. My symptoms: When turning key to start had to turn several times before I heard any click or have the engine start. Eventually, it degraded to where I could not start the car--complete silence. I happened to be parked at a used book store, went inside, found Bentley's for the Rabbit. In it was a test for the starter--it may or may not be in the Vanagon Bentley. As I recall, I turned the key to "on", ran a wire from the positive battery to one of the connections on the starter and the car started right up. ( I made sure it was in neutral) Problem was a bad ignition switch. Ken Wilford's site--vanagain.com--has the procedure to remove the ignition switch which was pretty easy. Went to a foreign auto parts, replaced the switch. Everything is OK. This may or may not be your problem. |
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