Since you have www connection, go to the GoWesty site and look in their library for no-start problems. They list 4-5 problems and 2 relate to ignition switch, which your problem/symptoms sound like to me.  There is a vid here that describes the replacement procedure here:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kgAxneoWejI

Bob

Sent from DAS4X4

> On Feb 15, 2014, at 2:20 PM, David <okdavid5555@COX.NET> wrote:
> 
> 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