The same thing happened to me two years ago.  Wire from P/S switch grounded out and fried the wiring harness in the engine compartment in my 87 Westy. I put an inline fuse on the + wire.

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> On Feb 10, 2016, at 10:24, Jon VonOhlsen <jondvo@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Interesting about the PS circuit, had no idea. Possible shorts to ground
> seem quite possible.
> Jon
> 
> 
>> On 2/9/2016 9:03 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
>> This is kinda to bring everyone up to speed on  recent problems on my '88
>> GL Vanagon.
>> 
>> A little while back driving down the road the starter suddenly engaged.
>> Stalled the engine. Clutched it, but could not turn off the starter. Fnally
>> did, and long story short, got it tow to HESCO, one of the best garages in
>> the area. They will work on anything. Even had a snowmachine mounted on
>> wheels in there.
>> 
>> Anyway, after checking, they found the engine bay harness was fried, as was
>> the ECU and the starter. It seemed the meltdown began with a PS switch wire.
>> 
>> What has been learned from knowlegable folks ln this list, is that:
>> 
>> 1) The PS steering switch circuit is a hot, un-fused circuit. There is no
>> protection of this circuit on these vans.
>> 
>> 2) The fix ( by way of David Beierl) is to install  a 7.5 amp fuse in the
>> engine wiring box, in the red wire that goes from the B+ post inside the
>> box to the relay box.  That will keep your harness from smoking.
>> 
>> 3) A thru 2003 BRAND NEW FROM THE FACTORY starter for a TDI DIESEL, fitted
>> with an adapter plate, works perfect. This also works with a Subaru engine
>> conversion.
>> 
>> See following links:
>> 
>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-NEW-STARTER-FOR-VW-DIESEL-TDI-MANUAL-TRANS-HIGH-TORQUE-2Kw-ONE-YR-WARRANTY-/300475513229?hash=item45f5bc798d:g:p8EAAOxyJX1TFmlY&vxp=mtr
>> 
>> http://www.westyventures.com/parts.html
>> 
>> Necessary pigtail:
>> 
>> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1673971
>> 
>> Kudos go to Peter Jones at Van Cafe for scaring me up an ECU with the
>> pigtail already installed formy SHOEBOX ECU MONITOR. Since my stroke I
>> don't have fin enough muslce control to do that fine soldering required.
>> Hand shakes just a little to much. But he got'ter done. He is also going to
>> put Davids fix on the Van Cafe  web site next to the PS swich info.
>> 
>> And KUDOS to JAY BROWN for his advice on the starter pigtail and sending me
>> a new starter relay to replace the one that got fried in all this. I happen
>> to have his headlight relay set-up in both my vans, too.
>> 
>> There were many others who provided input on this, and I want to thank you
>> all too.
>> 
>> I seriously hope this helps someone else avoid the problems and expense
>> that I have had with this.  Remember, fore warned is fore armed! Fuse that
>> wire and avoid all this some place on a dark and stormy night, between
>> Somewheresville and Nowheresville!
>> 
>> John