I have found a photo of "the other end".  Like the photo in my first post
on this topic, this is not a photo my van -- it's another photo posted to
TheSamba.com.  There's no AC compressor in this photo, which really helps
for viewing.  Here it is, in case anyone finds this thread later:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/425705.jpg
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=286798 (discussion page)

Note also the empty bolt hole a little higher in the photo, I think that
would work just as well though with the compressor in place it's a little
harder to reach.  (On my van there's no second wire (the brown/black one)
sharing the bolt location -- it's connected to the upper bolt instead,
assuming it's the same wire.)

So now I know I had located the correct bolt location before posting --
where the cable terminal ended up is a mystery.  Anyhow, on to the
multimeter diagnostics.... thanks again for advice folks.

-George

On Sun, Mar 26, 2017 at 6:20 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> I know other chimed in. The other end of that ground strap is attached to
> the cylinder head. This ground is extremely important as it helps to
> provide a "0" reference point for the fuel injection sensors. Depending on
> year there are also other ground wires on the other end or it is with one
> of the screws holding the coolant pipe for the oil cooler. To get to
> removing the AC compressor will help. There is enough room for the
> compressor to be moved out of the way without disconnecting the lines.
>
> The major ground for both starting and charging current is at the front of
> the transmissions. If both these grounds are missing than parts of the fuel
> injections system will try to be the ground path and you can be amazed at
> how much wiring you can fry.
>
> Looking at that photo you have a serious case of neglect going on with all
> those grounds and the day will come that all sorts of things can go wrong.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of George Gaudette
> Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2017 9:36 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Where's the other end of my broken ground strap?
>
> Hello,
>
> A braided ground cable on my van fell apart, just like:
>
>
> https://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m144/Mikls63rag/Posting%20shit%20up/2010-09-06171905.jpg
>
> Same cable as mine -- one end bolts in clear view under the starter.
>
> I am not...very mechanically inclined.  I don't even own a voltmeter (I
> know, I deserve whatever comments I get for that admission!)  But this
> seemed like a small job I could handle.  Battery disconnected.
>
> I have two questions:
>
> 1) Other bolt location?
>
> The other bolt location is... somewhere under the AC compressor?  I can't
> just follow the cable -- it was very brittle and pulled off in my hands
> when I gave it a little tug (dummy).  But it should still be easy to spot,
> since the cable terminal is should still be attached, right?
>
> I don't suppose anybody has a good photo of "the other end"?
>
> 2) **Can** a Vanagon start without that ground cable being connected?
>
> Here's what happened:  The van was running normally.  I parked for a
> couple minutes, turned the key, but no sound from the starter.  I could
> hear the fuel pump do its initiation whiz sound for a sec, then silence
> until I relaxed the key.
>
> The broken ground strap looked to me like the obvious culprit.  But if the
> van **can** start without it, then I've probably got another problem, right?
>
> For what it's worth, I did install a new cable already, but no change to
> symptom.  I'm hoping I just chose the wrong location to bolt it to
> (question #1).  I did clean up the terminals some, but not down to bare
> metal.  Light coat of dialectic grease on everything, including the new
> braid.
>
> Either way, the van is on its way to my mechanic, but I'd rather drive
> then be towed.
>
> Thanks for reading!
>
> -George
>