Date:         Tue, 17 Dec 2013 18:20:43 -0800
Reply-To:     william landsman <unclebeer@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         william landsman <unclebeer@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Vanagon turns over but won't start...ground problem?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hello all!

Quick question for the gurus out there. 

So in the last 2 weeks I have been out in my van driven it around and park for a few hours then went out to try and start it and it would only turn over. 
We jumped it the first time and it started so i thought it was a bad battery, had it check and it was good. 

I think it might be the grounds after doing some snooping on the internet. 

Here are some things I have noticed. 

1. The horn will not work sometimes.
2. The shifter console will not light up when first started, but it i wiggle the shifter it usual lights up. 
3. When the guy check the battery he put the alligator clip on the positive terminal and it sparked pretty good, it surprised him, he said that was very odd. 
4. I have noticed that the alternator, that i installed this last summer has been making more of a whirring sound than normal. 
5. The passenger side front yellow light will not turn on when lights turned on all the time, if it is not on I tap it and it turns on. 

I have an engine that is less than a year old in the van. There is gas. new alternator, battery seems good. 

I live in Arlington VA, does anyone know of a good mechanic that can look at this? 
Are there a list of grounds to check on the van. I do have a Bentley and some knowledge of repairing vehicles, but one i look at wire diagrams I do get a bit confused. 

Any other thoughts? 

Thanks for your time.

Bill 
1990 Vangaon "Big-bot"