Bad ignition switch. There is the X contact for the accesories. The
headlight dimmer, (high beam flasher switch) gets power directly from the
battery so when it is pulled with the headlight switch turned on it provides
a path to bypass the X contact on the ignition switch and everything will
power up.

Dennis

>From: Chad Lyles <chad.lyles@GMAIL.COM>
>Reply-To: Chad Lyles <chad.lyles@GMAIL.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: electrical problems... confusing!
>Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:39:39 -0700
>
>ok so yesterday like i was saying after i found the one hundred dollar
>parking ticket i was going to go to the grocery store... i cranked up and
>turned the head lights on... and just the parking lights came on... i
>pulled
>the lever (for the head lights) to see if the brights would at least
>work...
>and they came on ...but they wouldnt stay on... i thought maybe i need new
>head lights... went and bought head lights same thing ... only come on when
>i pull the lever for the brights and then when i let go of the lever they
>go
>off.... NOW ...my windshield wipers and speedometer are not working OR my
>blower (for the heater). so get this ... right after i put the new head
>lights in... i was checking to see if they work and when they didnt i
>pulled
>the lever for the brights and my windshield wipers and blower both came on!
>but only while i was holding the brights lever HAHA
>what do i look for?
>  every thing in the dash looks connected...from what i can see....i live
>in
>portland and i cant NOT have head lights or windshield wipers!!!
>
>starting to get worried
>Chad~
>84 GL