We would have had to hear the clunk to offer good advice.

Mine sometimes goes "Clunk" if I stall it at slow speed when starting
off ... but then it starts back up with no problem. (4 speed)

If a big wrench is available, try turning the engine via a wrench on the
crankshaft pulley bolt.

If it's a 4 speed, try pushing it slowly in neutral then putting it in
gear and popping the clutch while turning the key to engage the starter.
  If the starter has a bad spot on the commutator, this will move it
from that spot.  Also, such a maneuver would certainly show if the
engine is frozen or not.  If not frozen, you could even try push
starting it.

Mike

Scott Daniel - Shazam wrote:
> No one seems to be paying much attention to the clunk sound it made the last
> time it stalled out or quit.
> It could 'mean something.'
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Zoltan
> Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 1:12 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: 87 started, then died again
>
> The grounds are; from battery to body, from body to transmission (under the
> car), and the contacts of the starter.  Take them off, clean and put them
> back.  By now, rust has stopped the contacts.  Negative contact is very
> susceptible to corrosion.
> Z
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "neil N" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 12:46 PM
> Subject: Re: 87 started, then died again
>
>
>> One other thing; clean battery clamps.
>>
>> (new batt posts should already be clean no?)
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>> On 7/23/07, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Check connections to starter.
>>>
>>> If there was really rough idle and/or jerky movement while moving van,
>>> something could have come loose.
>>>
>>>
>>> Neil.
>>>
>>> On 7/23/07, Tonya Pope <Tonya@holoreality.com> wrote:
>>>> I think I thanked everyone who responded to my previous request for
>>>> help.  If I didn't, I'm very thankful for all the good advice.  I did
>>>> finally get my 87 started after it sat for I guess about 2-1/2 years.
>>>>  No special magic trick, just out of frustration I was sitting and
>>>> turning the key over and over again and it finally decided I wasn't
>>>> going to give up so it sputtered itself to life.  After roughly
>>>> idleing for a bit to get things moving, we tried getting it to move
>>>> under its own power.  It promptly said "no" and died.  However, it
>>>> did start right back up.  After a bit more coaxing, and giving it
>>>> more gas as I put it into gear, it did move under its own power.
>>>> Killing a few times, but starting right back up.  While moving it
>>>> around the driveway, it died one last time (with a clunking noise, I
>>>> might add).  That was it.  Since then, when you turn the key to the
>>>> on position, you can hear the fuel pump kick on and when you turn it
>>>> to start, you hear the click from the engine compartment, but nothing
>>>> from the starter.  I've checked the battery (which is new) and put it
>>>> on the charger just to see if all those starts weakened it, but still
>>>> no luck.
>>>>
>>>> So, while I'm in the middle of planning a conversion, it'd be nice to
>>>> be able to move it around until that happens.  However, I don't
>>>> really want to spend $$ on something that I'm about to yank out
>>>> (which will be practically everything for this atypical conversion).
>>>> Could I get lucky and there is something that came unplugged from the
>>>> moving after sitting so long, or do ya'll think that the starter
>>>> probably officially died on me (or even worse, the engine seized or
>>>> something).
>>>>
>>>> As always, the lists guiding light is much appreciated,
>>>> Tonya
>>>> 87 Vanagon Wolfs
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
>>>
>>> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
>>
>> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>>
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database:
>> 269.10.14/912 - Release Date: 7/22/2007 7:02 PM
>>
>>
>