Our '81 Vanagon has a potential problem. Advice please on tracking it down
...

The fuel gauge and the direction indicator lights in the dash are both going
on and off over the past two/three days. They'll both be working for a
while, then they'll both be off, though there doesn't seem to be any
particular event that triggers the change. The direction indicators still
work, and I hear the normal ticking sound. Other instruments seem fine,
clock runs, oxy and oil lights come on when I turn the ignition on and go
off normally, and the instrument panel illumination works. Might it be a
loose connection? What should I look for, or is it likely to be something
that need an electrics specialist?

Tonight there was another problem, which might be totally unrelated - the
battery nearly failed to start the engine. The engine was hot, had been
stopped only five minutes.  The battery state LED by the 'fridge has been
showing orange for a few weeks so maybe the battery is failing or perhaps
it's not charging right. I've no idea if this is related to the dash problem
(and until morning I'm not going to start/try the engine again.)

Other info: it's an automatic, in Santa Cruz Calif.

I've got a trip planned in 10 days, arranged time off work and sister flying
in, so it would be very cool to solve this fast. Please, dear list members,
any ideas and advice will be welcome.

Al