>I have an 82 Diesel that just cranks and cranks and cranks, but
>won't catch and start. This has happened on and off until today,
>when it simply didn't start and just kept cranking. Now, my battery
>[which was purchased new 2 weeks ago...] is low from all the
>cranking, and I really can't get the van to start. Doesn't matter if
>I pull out the cold start knob, or if I leave it in. I try to keep
>the pumping of the gas pedal to a minimum, but still, nothing.
>
>With this limited description of the problem, anyone want to take a
>stab at what might be happening?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Bill

Sounds like bad glow plugs or part of the glow plug circuit (relay or
fuse) . There is a fuse mounted on the relay in the engine
compartment which I had break from vibration, It's a strip of metal
and mine broke on one end.

It could be bad glow plugs, as more of the glow plugs die it gets
harder to start. There's probably a procedure for disconnecting the
bus bar from the glow plugs and measuring the resistance to see if
they are good.

HTH

  -Otmar-
82/86 Stretch Vanagon Westfalia Syncro GTI. "Power of two"
http://www.evcl.com/vw
Several EVs (Electric Vehicles)