I borrowed the neighbors truck (grabbed some food for the fam and put a few
gallons of gas in the guys ride) and scored two coils, two coil leads, a
distributor and an ECU.  Tried the easy thing first.  Swapped the coil
lead.  No change.  Swapped the coil.  BAM!  Started up in less than a
rotation.  Ahh...Now I don't have to sell them all...

Thanks to all for the helpful troubleshooting hints.  Stuck with no tools,
parts, or equipment, I needed some quick thinking and tips.  Great group
action!

TJ

On Sun, Oct 30, 2011 at 16:01, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> here's how I like to trouble shoot 'no ignition.'
>
> I connect a Remote STarter Switch so I can operate the starter while I am
> by the engine.
> I do the ole 'spark jump' test with the coil wire ...pull the center high
> tension lead out of the dist cap, arrange it near the engine block, crank
> engine ...
> look for a good zap zap zap.
>
> if there isn't any ..
> I grab my spare knwon-good distributor and unplug the one on the engine,
> plug this one in, and turn it with my fingers.
> if spark then ...you know it's your old distributor.
>
> the ECU does supply the 'ignitor' portion of igntion on a 2.1 waterboxer
> ...
> they are usually good though.
> The Hall Unit in the distributor ..once miles get very high ..
> that part is suspect.
> also check wires to the side of the distributor ..they can be weak, or
> fail there.
> Coil..
> seldom have I seen a truly dead coil...
> they are 'nebulous' ..eventually ...
> they should just be replaced.
>
> gotta have a known good spare distributor in your kit of parts.
> I couldn't own or drive a vanagon without one, and some other known-good
> units like that. ECU, etc.
>
> scott
> www.turbovans.com
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "TJ Hemrick" <x53gunner@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2011 10:23 AM
> Subject: No start/no spark
>
>
>
>  All,
>>  Is there an easy way (e.g. side of the road/limited tools) to check if
>> the Hall Effect Generator is working or not.  Here's the situation; I felt
>> some minor hesitation the other night but only from standstill till it got
>> moving.  Immediately, I suspected my latest POS Advance/Discount auto
>> parts
>> fuel pump (even though the first pump was 4 months old and failed and the
>> current replacement is 3 weeks old, I'm ordering a new BOSCH from our
>> trusted vendors first thing Monday).  Well, we got to the next light and
>> the van stopped running.  No restart.  Ran to the back and shot some
>> starting fluid in.  No change.  Right then and there, I thought, this is
>> NOT the fuel pump (well, not completely).  If it didn't start on starting
>> fluid, I'm not getting any spark.  Got it home (2 miles courtesy of AAA)
>> and tore into it today.  I got a weak and intermittent spark from the coil
>> wire grounded to the transmission bolt.  I pulled a plug and did the same.
>> No spark.  I cleaned all the contacts in the cap and tip of the rotor.
>> Still, no spark.  I suspected the coil or ECU.  Just out of habit, I
>> pulled the grounds under the coil and cleaned them (they looked good).  Is
>> there any way to do a field check on the Hall Effect Generator or coil.
>> I'll end up bumming a ride from the neighbor to the shop to get some
>> spares but trying to do it the right way.
>>
>> TJ
>> 87 GL Auto
>>
>
>