Sorry if this is too obvious, but is a battery terminal contacting the metal battery case?  

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Don Hundt 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2001 7:25 AM
  Subject: bizarre electrical problem (kinda urgent)

  Hi all,
  I have an 82 diesel (converted to 83 gti) with a strange problem. when I tried to start it this morning,it turned over normally for a moment, then stopped. next attempt I got a click click click click from the back, then all of a sudden nothing worked. No lights, no radio, etc. I tried turning it over again, very weak glow from idiot lights. waited a few seconds, tried again, Click, nothing, a repeat of the first 

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