This weekend, on three seperate occasions, my starter wouldn't do its thing
when I turned the key.

*       The first time I figured it was the ingnition tumbler because there
was no sound from the rear when the key hit the 'start' position. Sliding
under the van and checking the connections at the starter resulted in
nothing. I tried my back-up key and the van started.
*       The next day, while hurrying to catch a ferry, it happened again.
This time, my buddy who was standing at the rear, said he could hear the
fuel injection system switching on when the key hit the 'start' position. He
threatened sliding under the van to tap the starter, but just then the van
started (with my regular key) and we were on our way. We presumed the threat
was what did it.
*       Then, after the ferry docked, again no start. As you can imagine, I
threatened up and down, while trying both keys, as angry motorists and
Washington State Ferry System deckhands observed. After being pushed off the
ferry by one of those cool little tractors, I bump started it while coasting
down the ramp.

Long story short, twice later that night the van started with no issue as it
did this morning. Is this situation the precursor to a starter crapping out?
Is there anything else I should be checking or testing?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

>       [Brad Anderson]
>       87 Vanagon Syncro
>       87 Golf GL