Hi Patrick,
I had been fighting the same problem in my Vanagon....I had diagnosed the
day-lights out of the starting and charging system.  Just out of bad luck
(left lights on, killed battery) did I replace the battery.  The van starts
instantly now with absolutely no hesitation.  You can never tell by the age
of the battery alone.  My old one was only 14 mos old.
Karl Batzler
-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Hatcher <PHatcher@BIOPOP.COM>
To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM <vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 1998 11:35 AM
Subject: Hesitation when starting, where should I start?

>I just put my '85 Westy GL on the road, and it hesitates when starting.
>
>Most times, it only slightly hesitates (turning over slowly), then
>starts up fine.
>
>Every now and then (3-4 times a day) it turns over very slowly once or
>twice and then won't do anything.
>After doing this three or four times it starts up.
>
>At the same time, the OS and Battery lights sometimes come on when I
>first start up until I give it good rev and get the RPMs up.  After
>that, they always go away.
>
>I'm guessing that I need a new battery (don't know how old current one
>is).
>
>Any other things I should check first?
>
>Thanks!
>
>-Patrick Radford, VA
> '85 Westy GL "Vicki"
>