YEAH...
very easy to do.
Hook up a remote starter switch ...
rig the coil wire so a spark can jump to ground.

put a NOID light on a an injector wire,
crank it, with key on, with the remote starter switch.

if you see injector pulse and big fat spark out of the coil wire,
consier that the plugs are wet-fouled and can't fire.

if no spark, or no injector pulse...
start at the distributor.

pull the plug off the side of the engine's distributor ( very carefully
...it's delicate there )
and plug it into your spare distributor,
then turn that with your fingers..

each quarter turn ( key on ) you should hear the fuel pump run, hear the
fuel in the fuel rails sometimes, see a spark, and see an injector pulse
flash.

if those 3 don't occur with this test ...
work on the ignition..
work on fuel pump running if need be..
usually it's not the ECU.

the above can be done easily in 15 minutes.
\
wet-fouled plugs.
happens more easily in winter.

all it takes is large very worn electrode gaps ..
fuel being squirted in ...and 'more fuel than spark combined with old
plugs and plug gaps ' ..and you have wet-fouled plugs.

at least pull one plug out.
On my own fine running vanagon recently ..
decided I should look at the plugs since it's been a long time.
bosch platinums..
one was missing the entire center electrode !

scott

On 08/12/2016 12:50 PM, Alfred Bagdan wrote:
> My 85 Vanagon  has suddenly developed a starting problem:  when trying to start it just cranks and does not fire,  when depressing the gas pedal it wants to start but does not "catch" , and dies when key is released.  Gave up  after trying several times.
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks,   Alfred
>