My first reactive thought is the ignition switch.  I'm sure, there will be a
few more with other ideas, like ECU.  It's a good practice to have the few
small electrical parts as spares in the van.  Anything like this can happen
with this older cars, anytime.  But I can also think of a ground connection
that was not perfect and did not deliver enough electrons, and it may happen
again.
I assume, you have a 2.1 watercooled van.
Zoltan

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 9:28 PM
Subject: Sorta Scary Event

>  Driving along the highway tonight, the engine just suddenly quit as
> cold as if I had turned off the ignition. All the annunciator lights
> came on as I coasted to a stop on the side of the road. I turned the
> ignition off, then back on, then to start, and it fired right up, and
> didn't fault again. For the engine to do that - even once - says I have
> a problem. But where to even start looking I don't have a clue. It
> didn't even sputter. It was like someone threw the "Off" switch - but
> the ignition switch was on of course. What might cause a blatant engine
> stoppage that way? It didn't even sputter.
>
> If it happened once - it WILL happen again.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John
>
> --
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>