I queried my Gmail and found this post, which helped to quickly diagnose
that my hall sender has pooped the bed.  About eight years ago I swapped in
a used unit from a Volvo, but it finally died about a block away from the
house an hour ago.  Thanks!

On Wed, Apr 2, 2014 at 5:59 AM, JRodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>>
>>

--
Casey