Definitely sounds like the wiring is flakey.  And with all due respect, I
think some parts may have been changed prematurely.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
JRodgers
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2014 10:18 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Ignition Failures

A while back - the starter ran away on Ol' Red. A shop changed the
starter, but was unable to get the ignition to fire. I just had the van
taken home so I could tend to it. It was the beginning of a merry chase
- and one apparently not done.

I did the Hall Sender Test It was dead. I happened to have another
distributor handy with a good hall sender - so Installed it in Ol' Red.
Fired right up it did. Decided to wait until next day to adjust the
distributor. Hit the switch - dead as a doornail.

More Hall Sensor testing - this time it was the coil that was dead.
Pulled the good, working one out of Volksiebus and installed it in Ol
Red.Engine fired right up.

Ol Red had sat for a while - and as I drove off the brakes sounded
really weird. So I just parked it. Today - this morning - I took it to a
known good shop. They fixed the brakes. Actually brakes and drums were
fine. a locker had come loose -   and once fixed, I was ready to go. I
thought.

When they went to start the engine - it would not fire. Grind, grind -
no firing. I had to leave it with the shop overnight.

Gonna run the hall sender/coil test in the morning. Right now it looks
like the coil is kaput!! Again!

Anyone got any ideas about what this is about!

Thanks,

John