TJ,

My '88GL did this and it was the Hall sender. There is an easy test for
this in the Bentley. The test will determine a bad coil or Hall
sender/sensor.

  VW T3:Vanagon Checking for Spark - Parts 1&2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95PkgSavOCo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWUSlEvzngs

Hope this helps.

John

On 4/2/2014 7:37 AM, TJ Hemrick wrote:
> So, I found a willing volunteer to crank the engine over and I have NO
> spark at all.  Checked all the connections but either the coil is dead or
> something somewhere that drives it is not doing it's job.
>
>
> From: *TJ Hemrick* <x53gunner@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 4:51 PM
> To: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>
>
> All,
>    As if losing most of what we own from a house fire last Tuesday wasn't
> enough, now my transportation has come to a dead stop. 87 automatic, had
> some starting issues which (now) I see Kay have been some loose connections
> at the starter AND a broken wire (which was probably just a few strands of
> copper most of the past 2 weeks. Anyhow, I was idling, shifted to R AMD the
> engine went dead stop.  No power to 4-ways or anything else. Lights on dash
> DO come on but so does the green turn indicator light and it's on steady if
> the key is turned. Very weird.  Relay 21 on the panel cycles about every 10
> seconds with the ignition off and not at all with the key turned.  Any
> hidden fuses or fusible links I might be overlooking?  All other fuses look
> good but I'll check again.  Never been stuck this bad and no clues.
>
> ----------
> From: *thewestyman* <zolo@foxinternet.net>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 5:32 PM
> To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>
>
>
> Is your gear change handle in the good position?  Move it a little in Park
> to make better connection with the switch.
> More I can't tell now.
> Z
>
> -----Original Message----- From: TJ Hemrick
> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2014 1:51 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: STRANDED
>
> ----------
> From: *JRodgers* <jrodgers113@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 6:00 PM
> To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>, vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
>
>
> Holy Cow, TJ!! Sorry to hear of all this. Hope all are OK.
>
> I'm not up on the automatics, so have no suggestions, but want to offer
> encouragement. There are Volks on this list that can help - and will - I'm
> sure.
>
> Best of luck to  you!
>
> John
>
> ----------
> From: *Neil N* <musomuso@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 6:06 PM
> To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>
> Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
>
>
> It looks like relay 21 is your "Emerg. flash/turn sig. relay".
>
> Try pulling it and see what happens.
>
> Your Vanagon is a 90 or 91 ?
>
> @ the list.
>
> This is a far fetched suggestion, but if the flasher relay were
> shorting out could 15 power to the relay be getting shorted to ground
> thus killing the ignition?
>
>
>
> On 4/1/14, TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com> wrote:
>> .....Anyhow, I was idling, shifted to R AMD the
> --
> 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
>
> ----------
> From: *kenneth wilford (Van-Again)* <kenwilfy@comcast.net>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 6:24 PM
> To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>
> Cc: Vanagon List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>
>
> It sounds like a ground problem.  Check the battery connections to be sure
> they are good, then check the ground connections behind the fuse panel.
>
> Sorry to hear about your problems.  Hope things start looking up for you
> folks.
>
> Sincerely,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>
> ----------
> From: *TJ Hemrick* <x53gunner@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 6:36 PM
> To: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>
>
> Oh, I forgot, all the grounds are good, no fuel pump when I turn the key or
> the idle solenoid either.
>
> ----------
> From: *mark drillock* <mdrillock@cox.net>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 7:01 PM
> To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>, vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
>
>
> Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Some of the van symptoms are probably not
> related to the main failure. I would focus on the issue at hand which is
> the fuel pump not cycling for a second or 2 when the key is turned on. That
> would be my main concern.
>
> The 4-ways are probably still partially switched on and that is making the
> turn indicator be on and the flasher rely click. Try rocking the 4-way
> switch solidly back and forth on/off 5 or 6 times and see if that changes
> the indicator status. The internal switch contacts tends to get flaky from
> disuse. Hope it is that simple.
>
> If you want step by step help in tracking down the running problem just
> ask. A volt meter will come in handy.
>
> Mark
>
> TJ Hemrick wrote:
>
>> Oh, I forgot, all the grounds are good, no fuel pump when I turn the key or
>> the idle solenoid either.
>> On Apr 1, 2014 4:51 PM, "TJ Hemrick" <x53gunner@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
> ----------
> From: *TJ Hemrick* <x53gunner@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 7:32 PM
> To: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>
>
> So, I fix (temp) the connections @ the starter, jump the battery and all
> she does is turn over, & over, & over.  No start.  New cap and rotor too.
> I don't have a helper to spin it over while I check for spark.  Oh
> well....  That's that.
> On Apr 1, 2014 4:51 PM, "TJ Hemrick" <x53gunner@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> All,
>>    As if losing most of what we own from a house fire last Tuesday wasn't
>> enough, now my transportation has come to a dead stop. 87 automatic, had
>> some starting issues which (now) I see Kay have been some loose connections
>> at the starter AND a broken wire (which was probably just a few strands of
>> copper most of the past 2 weeks. Anyhow, I was idling, shifted to R AMD the
>> engine went dead stop.  No power to 4-ways or anything else. Lights on dash
>> DO come on but so does the green turn indicator light and it's on steady if
>> the key is turned. Very weird.  Relay 21 on the panel cycles about every 10
>> seconds with the ignition off and not at all with the key turned.  Any
>> hidden fuses or fusible links I might be overlooking?  All other fuses look
>> good but I'll check again.  Never been stuck this bad and no clues.
>>
>
> ----------
> From: *mark drillock* <mdrillock@cox.net>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 8:14 PM
> To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>, vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
>
>
> One of the connections at the starter is a red wire that goes on the same
> stud as the big battery cable. This smaller red wire carries battery power
> to the engine compartment for the fuel injection to use during starting.
>
> Without this other connection at the starter the key will work, the engine
> will crank, but the fuel pump and injection system won't have power.
>
> The other end of that red wire goes to the alternator wiring stud where it
> joins another red wire that carries the battery power to the engine
> compartment wiring box stud. From there a red goes to the fuel injection
> relay box through the 2 pin connector that plugs on the front side of the
> box. Make sure that connector is firmly plugged it. If you have a voltmeter
> open the engine wiring box in the front left corner and measure the voltage
> on the metal stud with red wires held under a nut. That stud should have 12
> volts at all times, maybe dropping to about 10 during cranking.
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> Mark
> TJ Hemrick wrote:
>
>> So, I fix (temp) the connections @ the starter, jump the battery and all
>> she does is turn over, & over, & over.  No start.  New cap and rotor too.
>> I don't have a helper to spin it over while I check for spark.  Oh
>> well....  That's that.
>> On Apr 1, 2014 4:51 PM, "TJ Hemrick" <x53gunner@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
> ----------
> From: *kenneth wilford (Van-Again)* <kenwilfy@comcast.net>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 9:02 PM
> To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>
>
>
> Check the wires that plug onto the coil.  The black one can become loose
> and cause the van to die and not restart.
>
> Also that double plug at the firewall behind to air box that supplies the
> fuel pump can also get sketchy if the connections are corroded.
>
> Ken
> On Apr 1, 2014 4:51 PM, "TJ Hemrick" <x53gunner@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> ----------
> From: *TCollins* <tonycollin@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 9:03 PM
> To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>
> Cc: "vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM" <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>
>
> TJ
>
> I too am sorry to hear about your troubles and I am sending good vibes your
> way. Have you considered any connection issues with the selector level
> switch on the gear selector housing?
>
> I know that with the autos if not on park or neutral it won't start. If the
> lever adjustment is off then you could get artifacts like this. I'm
> guessing at this since it died on you while switching from reverse.
>
> I hope this helps,
> T.
>
>> On Apr 1, 2014, at 7:32 PM, TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>
>> So, I fix (temp) the connections @ the starter, jump the battery and all
>> she does is turn over, & over, & over.  No start.  New cap and rotor too.
>> I don't have a helper to spin it over while I check for spark.  Oh
>> well....  That's that.
>
>
> ----------
> From: *Alistair Bell* <albell@shaw.ca>
> Date: Wed, Apr 2, 2014 at 12:44 AM
> To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>
>
>
> Tim,
>
> I'm truly sorry to hear of the run of bad luck.
>
> About the van, maybe a thought to the D15 connector on the fuse panel. Got
> a blog post here
>
> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/vanagon-d15-connector-issue/
>
> Cheers
>
> Alistair
>