It looks like the camper's "refrigerator 12-volt heater relay" connects the
ignition terminal to the alternator D+ terminal through the relay's coil.
See Bentley 97.32b.  The current through the fridge relay's coil isn't
enough to activate the starter solenoid, but it is enough to activate
your relay.  You can test my theory by unplugging either the 85 or 86
terminal on the fridge relay; it's located in the aux battery compartment
under the driver's seat -- your relay should then shut off with the
ignition switch.

BTW, does anyone know why the fridge relay (AKA aux battery cut-out relay)
is wired this way?  I understand why it's connected to D+, but I don't
understand why it's grounded through the starter.

I personally think that the starter relay trick is a bad idea left over
from the days when VWs had 6 volt electrical systems.  If your ignition
doesn't work, fix whatever is broken; don't patch around it.

Regards,
Steve Green -- Folsom CA
Zefram -- '84 Wolfsburg Westfalia

On Thu, 31 Dec 1998 19:25:21 -0700, you wrote:

>I'm new to the list and in the archives found the oft repeated solution
>for a balky solenoid, to wit: installing a Bosch relay as outlined by
>Jack F and others.
>
>I have installed it on an 84 Westy per instructions but have a problem:
>The lead from the ignition switch (Red/Blk stripe) is still hot (12V)
>after the engine is running and key returned to "run" position.
[snip]