well.......
you could pull a spark plug or two to see if they are wet or dry.
Wet would indicate there's fuel but it's flooded, or the spark plug/s are
not firing.

or you could put a Noid Light on an injector wire and see if the ECU is
energizing the injectors.
I always do that immediately for a no start - in about 10 seconds it tells
you if the ecu is firing the injectors.

you could check to make sure the distributor wasn't tightened properly and
has turned, making timing much too retarded to run.

you could consider if it has a clogged cat .- though often it'll idle, but
not rev, as apposed to won't  start.

you could look for big air leaks.,
you could check that the temp sensor for the ecu is connected, and has a
reasoanbly proper resistance reading ...

you could dribble some gasoline down the intake, and see if that makes it
fire off.
you could inspect in the fuel filter, to see what the fuel itself looks
like, what junk or dirt is in the FF, and that it's not restricted.
You could check fuel pressure with a guage.

And at least check for 12 volts ignition on at the coil.
The ecu just became unplugged somehow ?

let us know what you find !

----- Original Message -----
From: "Leo Lipert" <leolipert@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 8:09 PM
Subject: 1988 Vanagon won't start

>   A friend's 1988 Vanagon died while driving down the freeway, just quit.
> He had it towed home, and today he and I took a look at it. We
> disconnected
> the fuel line at the engine and the fuel pump is working, and it's getting
> spark. We changed the distributor cap and rotor just because they looked a
> little suspect.
>
>   It doesn't even act like it wants to try to start. Turns over but
> doesn't
> pop or do anything approaching wanting to start.
>
> Any suggestions of where to look?
>
> Thanks, Leo