>Before you ditch that speedometer for
>a low mileage unit, disconect the speedometer cable from the rear of the
>speedometer and jack up the front drivers tire. Spin the tire and see if
>the cable is turning at the speedometer.Then determin if there is enough
>cable to go into the speedometer and meet with the socket inside.Have you
>tried just spinning the speedometer with a drill or your hand to see if it
>works?

Another failure point is the point where the cable exits the grease cap in
the center of the left rear wheel... if the little circlip breaks off and
the tip of the cable pulls back inside the grease cap, the cable won't get
spun by the wheel.

If that's OK, and you still don't get the cable spinning at the speedo end
when the wheel is spun, check the little clockwork box that turns on the
OXS light in your dash every so many thousand miles. On the '85, this
little mechanical marvel is found inline with the speedo cable, above the
spare tire. I believe that this can be bypassed with a later model speedo
cable, but I'm not 100% sure, as I haven't worked on any Vanagon newer than
my '85.

Good Luck!

Tim