Thank you guys.   Clearly I will have to delve deeper.  I have already noticed that the oil pressure light is flashing on and off at the same speed as the turn signals and dash lights.     Also , the turn signals and dash lights stop flashing if the lights are on either in park position or headlight position.    I can still hear a clicking however which comes from behind the glove box and the oil pressure light still flashes.    Also, no matter what I do, the starter motor will not operate.      I am not familiar with how to access stuff in the Vanagon yet,
so I am studying Bentleys pretty closely.   I have to find out how wire 30 gets its power, therefore wire 50.      Steve

On Dec 3, 2013, at 7:31 PM, Neil N wrote:

> Hi Steve.
> 
> P. 97.122 shows a small gauge grey/black wire from ign. sw. Su to the
> seat belt warning relay. AFAIK, Su is activated when key is inserted.
> 
> FWIW, my '88 has a 4 pin ECU relay so I generally use the '87 wiring
> diagrams for reference. In this case though, it appears that the above
> grey/black wire is the same.
> 
> If it were me I'd trace that wire back from the ign. switch connector.
> See where it terminates. As for fuel pump power, have you tried
> bypassing the fuel pump relay (as per Bentley test) to see if you then
> get 12V + at the fuel pump connections?  Am thinking that if there
> might bypass any alarm or disabling system and obviously mock-up
> things as if engine was running.
> 
> Neil.
> 
> On 12/3/13, Steve Cotsford <cotsford@aol.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi,   I bought this '88 model Vanagon back in April.
> 
>> I have a fuel pump to install.    I do however have a mysterious (to me
>> anyway) electrical issue.     If I insert the ignition key, all the turn
>> signals and dash lights start flashing and so far I have not found a way to
>> stop this.  All the dash switches are in the off position.  Clearly there is
>> a security system that I am ignorant of and I am not going to make any
>> progress until I have the upper hand in this.    The electrical system seems
>> to be fine otherwise although I have not succeeded in getting power to the
>> fuel pump connections.  Probably because a system is making the turn signals
>> and dash lights flash.    All the lights work properly otherwise.  The
>> wipers work although there is a missing relay and it only works on full
>> speed and will not park properly.
>> I am a retired mechanical engineer and have rebuilt several engines, gas and
>> diesel, converted cars, drive VW tdi cars and a Land Rover converted to
>> 300tdi, possess a Fluke meter and I am not usually a rookie.    However if
>> someone could point me in the right direction to get started on this one, I
>> would be very appreciative.    Many thanks,  Steve
> 
> 
> -- 
> Neil n
> 
> Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca
> 
> '88 Westy http://tinyurl.com/c8rlw6p
> 
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> 
> Vanagon VAG *Gas* inline-VR Engine Swap Group:
> 
> http://tinyurl.com/d7gd5ej