Around the beginning of July I took a week long trip to Canada and
the NE US and returned back home to Virginia. Near the end of the
trip I had trouble starting my engine (Subaru SVX in my Westy
Syncro). Essentially, it acted like a dead battery. I've changed
nothing. But I did get up under the van and fiddle with the grounding
strap to the transmission (braided copper cable), moved it back and
forth (listening to it "crackle").

All is well now. So I suspect a grounding problem and that ground
strap is a prime candidate for replacement.