Because several of the listers provided valuable advice, I thought
I'd tell what finally turned out to be "why my '86 Vanagon wouldn't
start".

I'm actually not sure what the first problem was.  Based on what I
replaced, it was probably either the fuel pump relays or the starter.
However, after I replaced the starter... the van wouldn't start and I
wasn't getting any power from the ECU to the fuel injectors (so said
my Digitool).

But, ho ho, what had happened was that the 15-mm socket that I
dropped when taking out the starter (and that I never did find
again...) fell into the bell housing and got so nicely jammed that
the engine couldn't turn over.  Ho, ho.  I'm still laughing thinking
about the pleasant afternoons that I spent tracing and retracing
current through all of the electrical wiring in the engine
compartment.  Ho, ho.

Anyway, I finally gave up and trailored the van to my mechanic who
said "The engine won't turn over.  It's frozen.  You need a new
engine."  And it was then that I remembered the 15-mm socket that I
never did find...  He took out the engine/transmission and, lo, there
was my $450 socket.

Ho, ho.  I'm still laughing.  But at least we're running again...

Chris

'86 Vanagon GL -- VA license "SLOW-VAN"
'86 Vanagon GL -- VA license "SLWR-VAN"
'86 Vanagon GL -- no license, used for parts "Part-y Boy"