The symptoms you described are similar to one that I had with an 85 Rabbit a
couple months ago.  My symptoms:  When turning key to start had to turn
several times before I heard any click or have the engine start.
Eventually, it degraded to where I could not start the car--complete
silence.  I happened to be parked at a used book store, went inside, found
Bentley's for the Rabbit.  In it was a test for the starter--it may or may
not be in the Vanagon Bentley.  As I recall, I turned the key to "on", ran a
wire from the positive battery to one of the connections on the starter and
the car started right up.  ( I made sure it was in neutral)

Problem was a bad ignition switch.  Ken Wilford's site--vanagain.com--has
the procedure to remove the ignition switch which was pretty easy.  Went to
a foreign auto parts, replaced the switch.  Everything is OK.  This may or
may not be your problem.