Hi Paul.  Sounds like a possible poor/corroded connection of battery cable
to the battery.  Do you hear a click when you turn the ignition key?  Check
both cables, clean and re-tighten.
Hope this helps.

Bob
87 Westy "RDRUNR1"

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul M. Hillbish <Sersote@AOL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, June 23, 2001 11:26 AM
Subject: I think my Van is mad at me

>My van has not been legal to drive for a while, so I have it sitting in a
>relatively safe place for temporary storage until I can get the money to
fix
>it. I have been without a vehicle for 2 weeks, because of the Jetta's
wheel.
>Yesterday, I decided to try and drive the van. I turned the key, and it
would
>not turn over. It started to, it sounded like it made one revolution, but
it
>would not start. It was acting like the battery was dead. I still had
>headlights, interior lights, and the windshield wipers, and spray worked as
>well. I did not get a chance to get in there and check it out, mostly due
to
>the fact that the van is about 15 miles away. (A little bit of a distance
to
>walk with tools) Does anyone have any ideas as to what may have caused
this?
>I am hoping that it is only the battery, but I am afraid that it is the
>starter. is this a common symptom of a van sitting for too long? I need to
>get this fixed relatively soon, because I am going to be showing the van to
>another listmember for him to check out a full Westy. (He is going to be
>doing a conversion, and wants to look at one intact) Any help would be
>appreciated. TIA.
>
>--Paul--
>