Jerry, really this problem would have shown up if you just did the ECU
plug tests per the Bentley Manual.  One of these tests is for ECU
power.  Always start with the ECU plug test and go from there.  It takes
15 minutes and an ohm meter to do.  Everyone skips it and jumps right to
the expensive stuff.  I have fixed so many Vanagons that other shops
couldn't just by doing this simple test and finding the problem quickly
and easily.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

Gerald Masar wrote:
> I have been working on this, off and on, for two or three weeks.
> Turns out, it was the power supply relay, the outboard one, in the box above the coil.
> Several people suggested the usual culprits, ECU, Hall sender, coil, but only a few mentioned
> relays. I also cleaned all of the grounds.
> The reason I had not checked it earlier, is because it is the only item different from the one
> on my '90, in which both relays are 141951253B.
>
> The non-starter is an '88 Westy, AT, power windows, locks and cruise.
> The relay in question is PN. 321919505A, but is listed on vendors site as being for an '85.
> I replaced it with an OTC NAPA Signal-Stat 192, rated 40 amps.
> They are both 5-prong, but not identical configuration.
> The diagram on the VW relay has 87A connected to the same line as 86, but with a symbol that
> looks like a diode.
> The NAPA relay has TWO 87's, both receiving power from 30 when the circuit is closed.
>
> Can someone please explain what is going on here? The '88 starts, runs fine and all of the
> power options work, but am I risking damage with this weird relay?
>
> Thanks for all of the suggestions,
> Jerry
>
>