I had the exact same problem with my van.  The Engine would occasionally
shut down out of the blue and when trying to restart the relays click like
crazy.  It turned out that the cable for the ECU and Fuel Injection power
supply was bad.

I would also check the ignition switch first as Mark suggested.  Easy to do.
I you have a Digifant ECU that has been converted for the Digitool you can
plug this in and see what the Digitool says.  What I saw with my problem was
simply no power, dead (if the ECU doesn't get any power, the Digitool
doesn't get any either).  Test the power supply to the ECU by removing the
right (passenger side) connector from the relay box in the engine
compartment.  The connector has two pins.  The left one (driver side) is the
power supply (solid red) and the other one (red/black) is for the dealer
diagnostic tool (so you don't need to worry about connecting it for the
test).  Connect a cable to the left pin and connect it straight to the
alternator.  If everything is fine now you also got a bad cable.

Good luck!
Peter

-----Original Message-----
From: KENWILFY@AOL.COM [mailto:KENWILFY@AOL.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 7:49 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Van Dies, Relays clicking...

Have an '86 Vanagon in the shop right now.  Customer has been complaining of
the van dying occasionally (sometimes after going over bumps).  When he
tries
to restart the engine turns over but won't start.  He hears relays clicking
several times(like the two in the engine compartment) while he is turning it
over.  Then cranks it again with no relays clicking and the engine starts.
I am leaning toward a bad ignition switch on this one.  Anyone ever had a
similar experience.  Engine runs pretty well otherwise and has lots of new
parts on it (the guy was basically replacing everything before he brought it
to me, trying to solve the problem that way).
Any insights would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
http://www.vanagain.com
John 3:16
Phone: (856)-765-1583
Shop:   (856)-327-0027
Fax:     (856)-327-2242

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