I know you've all been there-I was there today.1984 Vanagon, ran fine done to Everybus, problems out the wahzoo on the way home First, Sunday morning it wouldn't start-no response at all from the starter. It finally started, but on the way home the auto trans wasn't shifting right, no power on hills, and to top it off, 50 miles from home at a gas stop I notice it's leaking coolant form the radiator. It made it home though. I go out Tuesday evening to start it, and once again, no response from the starter. It's been that way until today. First thing I found was the contact bridge on the auto shift lever (prevents starting in gear) is missing-thought for sure that was it. No, found it's been bypassed. Next I measure the voltage at terminal 50 on the solenoid-barely 2 volts! I found a piece of 12 GA solid wire( like you'd find in your home wiring)  running from under the dash to terminal 50. I replace that with a piece of heavy gauge  stranded wire, and read 11.6 volts now at terminal 50-still no response from the starter. Last resort: seller gave me a used starter/solenoid. I install that (using many foul words in combinations I've never thought of before). Now, strange thing-both old and new solenoids only have terms 30 and 50- no 16 as shown in Bentley. Anyway, get the "new" starter in and hook everything up-still no response-4th turn of the key I hear the engine bump as I released the key-turn it again-no response-turn it one more time and it fires right up. I have started it least a dozens times now with no problem. I don't think I actually did anything though-I think it started because "it wanted to". All these things I checked to no avail, and then it starts. Weird. I still don't trust it though. Anyone ever experience something like this?  Jeff