Thanks so much to all of you who helped me with your
suggestions...having worked on my own vehicles all my life, i should
have known better...but panic set in as the outdoor thermometer kept
plummeting.  all i could picture was crawling around in 12'' of new
fallen snow checking and replacing all kinds of wires and harnasses  -
which i still intend to do anyway as soon as the warmer weather returns.

The problem was indeed the battery connectors...they looked good,
clean...but the neg didnt have a good contact at all...i took a
wirebrush to the posts and tightened up the terminals...havent had a
problem since (knock on wood).

Gina
85 Vanagon GL
119,043 miles