Fixed it...............dead ground wire off battery............the clamp
part would not transfer voltage to the wire..........put on a new one and
all is fixed.  Go figure
Adam P
81  Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
75 Campmobile "for sale'
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "mark drillock" <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2002 11:19 AM
Subject: Re: Electrical Gurus help needed 88 van.kinda long

> You should try the new ignition switch again now. Just takes a few
> minutes to hook up as a test. It may not have helped with the original
> starting problem but you have more than that going wrong now. Leave the
> new one hooked up during further testing.
>
> The instrument cluster +12 power comes right off the ignition switch.
> Before that it comes straight from the battery on one of the red wires
> that attach under the battery + clamp nut. Check to make sure it is not
> loose or damaged at the battery box.
>
> For testing purposes use the empty relay socket #2 on the relay panel. A
> spare male spade connector works great to get into the contacts.
>
> Pin 2 of this relay socket should ALWAYS have +12 volts.
> Pin 1 is chassis ground. You should measure +12 between them. If you
> have +12 here, both sides of the battery are connected to the main
> panel.
>  If not, measure from pin 2 to the center of the battery -neg post. If
> you have +12 now, the problem is in the battery ground wire in the
> battery box.
>  If no +12 from relay#2 pin 2 to batter post-neg, the problem is in the
> +12 wiring from the battery to the fuse panel. The thick red wire from
> the battery clamp nut plugs into the back of the fuse/relay panel.
> Remove the panel and check that this red wire is solidly plugged in.
>
> Let me know what the above tests produce and I will help further if
> needed.
>
> Mark
>
> Vanagon man wrote:
> >
> > This van is a 1988  Automatic...........
> >.....................
> > I pulled it up on ramps to check some other stuff, and I go back in to
start it, and nothing. NOTHING.  no LIGHTS, NO POWER AT ALL IN THE
FUSEBOX..........NOTHING.    i THEN CHECK THE BATTERY, AND IT HAS 12.5v, and
the connections are tight.
> >
> > WHAT THE?  This is my wife's main ride, and i need it straight by
Monday.
> >
> > Thanks for any help.
> >
> > Adam P
>