We have been seeing failed ECUs causing this issue for a while on the
1.9ls.  The ECU actually sends a signal to activate the fuel pump relay.
When this part of the ECU fails then the fuel pump relay won't get
activated and the fuel pump won't come on.  I have seen several folks do a
rig up that powers the fuel pump relay some other way (like using the power
to the coil from the ignition key) and this activates the fuel pump as soon
as you turn on the key and allows the van to start.  However I would not
continue to use the van in this condition but get a rebuilt ECU instead.
If you have another Vanagon owner that is local with an 83-85 1.9l Vanagon,
you could easily swap in their ECU to see if that fixes the problem.  Save
you a lot of troubleshooting.

Ken

On Sat, Jul 27, 2019 at 4:13 PM OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net> wrote:

> On 27 Jul , 2019, at 12:14 PM, Eric Caron wrote:
>
> > I’m not ruling out a bad start battery either but it does seem to be
> operating the starter.  It did so strongly on the side of the road and a
> bit less so now.  I have a charger on it now.
>
>         Do have the Battery Tested ~ If You happen to have 1 Shorted Cell
> & the other Cells have a good charge It will
>
> crank well but there will not be enough Voltage to make the ECU "Happy"
> enough to allow a Start ~
>
>         Had this happen to Me Many Many Years ago in 1 of My VDub Vans ~

-- 
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com