Date:         Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:38:30 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: No start, no spark
Comments: To: Mark A Kippert <vanagon@KIPPERT.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <DB12452E-0AEF-4AE6-957E-994AF1F7C7C4@kippert.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 02:19 PM 7/12/2010 Monday, Mark A Kippert wrote:
>My question: Could the ignition switch be the problem? I've had two
>brief incidents in the last month where the van stopped dead while
>backing out of a parking space. Just jiggling he key brought it
>right back to life. I also recall about a week ago when the van
>would not start. I turned the key and cranked it for about 15
>seconds. Turned the key off...back on...cranked...then it started.
>I'm sure I'll need to replace the switch, but could this be related
>to my no-spark issue.

Clearly you need a new ign switch.  However the ECU and fuel pump
control relays are triggered from the 15 terminal of the ign switch,
which is the same one that powers the coil; so it doesn't seem likely
that the switch itself can be causing your present
trouble.  Candidates are the Hall-effect generator in the
distributor, the connector at the distributor, the ECU, the coil and
the various wiring and connections in between.

Note: I'm working from 97.87-8, which is specified for '86 VIN G 055
690 and later.  I neither understand nor believe the spider's web on
the earlier diagram at 97.72 but I think it's fairly safe to apply
what I just said to the earlier ones as well.

Yours,
David