>The Bentley is
absolute crap in regards to troubleshooting this switch. Is anybody out
there with experience on it?

I've replaced several switches through the years.  My check is easy:  remove
starter solenoid wire located on top of solenoid (usually a red wire with a
plastic covering), attach volt ohm meter to check for voltage, key start the
van (it won't start, you've removed it's solenoid power) and check that
voltage while engaging the starter with key.  If it's less than 12 volts,
you may have a problem.  The easier check is this:  do you have to jiggle
the shifter handle to make the reverse lights work?  or to get the thing to
start? - problem found.

The switch is located under the plastic shifter housing (careful with the
shifter illumination wires and bulbs) and is made up of a metal
striker/slider that attaches to the shift rod and slides across a stationary
plastic piece that has contacts and wires attaching to it.  The starter
solenoid gets it's power through this switch and relies on the contact of
the metal slider across the plastic piece with contacts, typical
Park/Neutral safety switch.  Get both the switch and the slider.....they are
about $30 or so from www.vanagain.com.

If you have anymore questions, please let me know.
Good luck,
JB