Getting under the vehicle and engaging the starter is very dangerous in my
opinion. The solenoid can be activated "remotely" by removing the wire from
the terminal on the solenoid and attaching a long (10')12-18 ga wire in
place of it. An alligator clip can be used to connect the wire to the
solenoid terminal. You can then get out from underneath the vehicle. Once
this is done you can connect the other side of the wire to the battery to
activate the solenoid and starter.

I would use this procedure to troubleshoot a vehicle with a standard
transmission. I would access the solenoid wire at the cut-out switch at the
gear shifter on an automatic model.

Gary

----Original Message Follows----
From: Steve Cotsford <Piper109@AOL.COM>
Reply-To: Piper109@AOL.COM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Help -Stranded & need advice...
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 10:32:31 EDT

Sounds like maybe its no more than the starter solenoid.
You can test this simply by jumping the small solenoid wire to the big plus
contact on the starter.  Make sure the vehicle is in neutral of course, and
have someone else at the controls.   It will mean getting under the van.
If you just get a good clunk, and no rotation, possibly the brushes or the
main solenoid contacts inside are shot.   If you get no noise at all the
solenoid is bad.
If there is just a wiring fault in the switch or somewhere else, the motor
should engage and run.   If the ignition is on , she should start and allow
you to get it home.
I hope you'r not in the Western rd. part of town.
Good luck   Steve

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