Thanks for the info. I didn't get to the pin/current check; I pulled the
connectors out of the panel and checked the wires visually and with a meter,
plugged them back in and it started, tho grudgingly. In a way I'm not
surprised. I had to jiggle the key a bit but it starts.
Since both ignition switches are over 20 years old I'm going to get
replacements. I have a number of other things to do while waiting for parts
so I'm going to leave the panel down and check everything as you suggested
with the new switch in.
Guess I need to study up on reading those wiring diagrams as well.

Cya,
Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Beierl
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 7:11 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Electrical question (non-starting)

At 09:00 PM 5/22/2009, Robert Fisher wrote:
>Voltage at the red wire into the ignition switch is equal to the battery at
>around 12.2 (I know it's low, I've been messing with this for a few days
now
>and I need to charge it); when I turn the switch, the outbound voltage is
>about 10.2 and it drops to about 8.4 at the neutral safety switch. I can't
>make much out of the diagrams in the Bentley but it seems to me that the
>line between the ignition switch and the safety switch is one wire.

According to 97.147 the wire from the ign sw 50 terminal goes to
terminal B8 in the panel, then comes out D24 and goes to the 50
terminal on the safety switch.  So you've got four wire-end terminals
to check, plus the contact where the two plugs mate with the panel.

Measure from point to point on the wire and you'll find where the
high-resistance joint(s) are -- that's where your missing voltage
will show up.  Use a pin or needle to pierce the insulation to test
where the terminals crimp onto the wires...

Incidentally -- 97.4-5 tells you how to read the diagrams.

  --
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'89 Po' White Star "Scamp"