If everything went dead, it almost has to be the battery or its connections.
Probably a short within the battery, though you might want to check for a
loose or corroded connection.

Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jason Stevenson" <jstv4man@HOME.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2001 7:24 AM
Subject: Wierd Electrical Gremlins

Please help!
I have a 1984 Vanagon, and I had a really strange thing happen on my way
home from work yesterday.  I went around a corner near my house, and was
accellerating up the hill, when, suddenly, ALL of my electrics went dead
(even the radio, which isn't on the ignition circuit).  Naturally, this
killed the spark to the engine as well, so I coasted to a stop at the side
of the road.  I turned the key off, waited a few seconds, then tried to
start it.  The electrics came back on, and the engine tried to crank, but
wouldn't.  I then got out, went to the back, and looked over the engine
compartment to see if anything looked amiss.  It didn't.  I then went back
up, and tried to restart it.  After a few tries, it fired right up, and
motored the rest of the way home with no problems whatsoever.
My question is this:  what should I be looking for, and where should I start
to try to diagnose this?  Has anyone else on the list had this happen?  I
would almost suspect a problem with the battery or ignition switch, but I
may be on the totally wrong track there.
I would appreciate any advice anyone on the list could give me.  Thanks in
advance.

-Jason Stevenson