Hello Vanagon listers.  I've been a list member for quite a while, but have
contributed infrequently, only when I think I might be able to actually add
something worthwhile to a discussion. I've never asked a question about my
own Vanagon, but now I'd appreciate some help.

I've got a stock '91 Carat, automatic trans, with 145K miles (60K put on by
me). I've experienced this issue a number of times over the past six months
or so, and it was never a problem until about a month ago when I thought it
was going to strand me.

Here's the symptom: When turning the ignition key to the "start" position,
every once in a while, there is a very brief period of nothing happening,
ranging from a split-second to maybe a half-second. Continuing to hold the
key in the start position, the starter kicks in and the engine starts as
normal.

I emphasize that this happens infrequently, and when it does, the period of
time before the starter kicks in is usually almost imperceptible, but it's
enough of a delay that you're aware of it happening. There does not appear
to be a correlation between outside air temp or whether the engine is warm
or cold.

About a month ago, when I was 100 miles from home, I turned the key to the
start position and nothing happened. Nothing. The usual dash warning lights
lit up when the switch passed through the "run" position, and when in the
start position, nothing happened. There was no dimming of the warning
lights; no sound (like a click, for instance) at all. No indication that a
load was being placed on the electrical system. The no-sound and
no-light-dimming seemed very odd to me. I repeated the
turn-off-try-to-start-again sequence several times, which yielded no change.
Then I got the idea that maybe the neutral safety switch was the problem, so
I moved the gear selector from "P" to "N" and tried again - several times -
with the same result. I even rapidly moved the gear selector back and forth
from "P" to "1" several times, thinking I would "clear" or shake loose (?)
the contact mechanism. This resulted in no change when trying to start in
either "P" and "N."

Frustrated, I got out of the van and walked around it in dismay. I even
looked on the ground under the engine - as if I'd find some part had dropped
on the ground or was hanging loose (isn't looking at and underneath the
engine what we're "supposed to do" when something's wrong? J  )

After about 10 minutes of being thoroughly upset and confused, I crawled
back in the driver's seat figuring I was going to have to call a wrecker. I
decided to give it one last try before grabbing the cell phone, and to my
amazement, it started right up, without any perceived delay.

It has started perfectly since then, however, the infrequent, very brief
delay episodes have continued.

I would appreciate any advice on diagnosing where the problem may lay.
Thank you.

David S.

Oklahoma City