To me it sounds like you accidentally pulled off the coil wire at one end or
the other.  There is a large wire to the starter from the battery, but it
would have to be connected for the engine to turn over.  If the coil is
disconnected, you won't get spark to any cylinder, so it'll crank all day
and not even try to catch.  But it's not really near the starter, so
hmmm....

If you're not familiar, look at the distributor (left rear of the engine,
with five wires/terminals on it) and trace the middle wire.  If it's not
connected to anything, that's your problem.  The other end goes to the
ignition coil, a cylindrical object, black or blue, that's about 2" in
diameter and about 6" long.  The wire goes to the middle of that.

I'd be curious to know what it turns out to be.

tx,
bmc  :)

Ben McCafferty
ben@volkscafe.com

Volks Cafe
1823 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA  95062
831-426-1244
http://www.volkscafe.com

> From: dgk1 <dgk1@HUMBOLDT.EDU>
> Reply-To: dgk1 <dgk1@HUMBOLDT.EDU>
> Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 13:41:41 -0800
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: non-starting vanagon
>
> Mechanic tips wanted.  The starter died in my '85 Westy and after replacing it
> she no longer starts.  Turns over great.  Doesn't start.  The thing is, even
> when the other starter was close to death and would hardly turn over, she'd
> start right up.  And even after the starter died completely I could bump start
> it just by pushing it by hand (alone) for a few feet and then popping the
> clutch in gear.  Now, nothing.  The one clue I have is an extra wire (with a
> really big terminal end that looks more like a bushing) in the vacinity of the
> starter.  I'm pretty sure I unhooked two, and now there's an extra one there
> that doesn't seem to fit anywhere obvious.  Help!
> --Dion