I can think of 2 possibilities at the moment.

1. The PS pressure switch power wire comes out of the fuel injection
harness. There is also a starter signal wire in there too. It may be
that the PS power wire melted through its insulation and is shorting out
to the starter signal wire inside there.

A simple test for this could be done at the relay box on the left side
of the engine. The front edge of the relay box has a 2 pin connector.
One of those pins is power for the fuel injection relay, the other pin
is the start signal wire feed into the injection harness. If you could
unplug that 2 pin connector and see if that solves the starter running
on issue. If you want the engine to start and run you would need to make
a jumper wire to reconnect only the power wire so the starter signal
will be still isolated from the injection harness.

2. The other possibility is that there is a spurious start signal coming
from the idle control unit wiring since the idle control unit also
connects to that same starter signal wire inside the injection harness.

A simple test for this is the same as the for the above. You could also
remove the right rear tail light assembly, reach in and unplug the idle
control unit that hides in there, looking like a wide relay. It could
also be that there is some wiring damage in there where the idle "relay"
hides as that is a favorite place for small rodents to set up house.
When they set up in there they tend to enjoy chewing on the wiring
bundle and that could be the cause of your problem rather the the relay
itself.

Please send my $100 to the PIF fund, assuming I win.

Mark

Richard Golen wrote:
> Dear Vanagon List Members,
>
>
>
> I am offering a $100 Reward for the solution to my starter problem. Please
> read all of this carefully before suggesting your solution. The reward will be
> sent via PayPal or via check.
>
>