A simple test to narrow this down is to unplug all of the black wires
from the ignition coil + side. You can leave the green wires on the
other side alone. Do it with the tranny in reverse and the backup lights
ON. If the backup lights go out when the black wires to the coil are
unplugged then the problem is NOT up front in the dash or ignition
switch. This would mean the voltage is coming in the reverse direction
and feeding back into the dash. Let me know what result you get.

Mark

"Filcoff, David M." wrote:
>
>  87 Vanagon GL Wolfsbug, Digifant, 2.1l, manual transmission
>
>
>
> After work the other day I shut off the Vanagon as usual, nothing out of the ordinary.  A few hours later I come outside and the reverse lights are on, the keys are not in the ignition, but the warning lights are all on and the idle stabilizer is buzzing.  I put the key in, turn it to run, then start, the battery is too run down to crank but it acts as though it would start.  The ignition remained on regardless of key position.  I disconnected the battery and left it for the night.
>
>  My first assumption was the electrical portion of the ignition switch was bad.  So I reconnected the battery, warning lights back on, and pull the connector off of the ignition switch, no change.  I do notice that the headlights and door buzzer do not work with the key out, the headlights still require the key to be in run.  So the switch is not the problem.
>
>  I charged the battery, started the engine with the key, runs fine. I switch the key off, still runs, I remove the key, still running.  I remove the negative battery cable from the battery, still running.  At this point I pull the AFM cable, the engine dies.
>
>  So has anyone had a similar problem?  I’m going to continue tracking the problem, I’ll post anymore findings.
>
>
>
> Dave
>
> 87 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg
>
> 61 Microbus
>
> 88 GTI 16v