Sounds like the classic case of bad ignition switch (ask me how I know
;)). It's a fairly cheap fix.

That's my number one guess.

Jon

On Fri, 27 Oct 2006, neil wrote:

> So....
>
> After lotsa work done to FI hoses, tune up, removing
> gas heater etc., van seemed to take longer to fire up.
> i.e. starter turns a lot, especially first thing in
> morning cold, before engine fires up. Warm it fires
> right away.
>
> But....
>
> This afternoon when it was warm, I tried to start it
> but got that "whir starter not engaged with flywheel
> teeth" sound. Tried again, then starter pinion gear
> engaged and turned engine a lot without firing. Then,
> I turned key fully clockwise, and it fired right away
> (as it should after all that work!). I tried it with
> key not turned hard, starter spun, but engine didn't
> fire.
>
> Am I nuts?
>
> Is it possibly that ignition switch contacts are so
> worn, that key needs to be turned as far as possible
> clockwise in order to make current flow to ignition?
>
> Pretty sure current to ignition is happening before
> key turns over starter.....
>
> Dazed and confused,
>
> Neil Nicholson.
> 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
>
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>
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