> Here is my story of our '84 Vanagon GL.  I do have two questions after all
> of this.
>
> We purchased an '84 GL in April for $650.  It needed an exhaust system and
> I slowly saved the money and spent the $325 for the parts.  I found a
> mechanic here in Milwaukee that would do the install for $60/hour labor.
> It cost me $254 for labor and a couple bolts + tax.  I picked the van up
> on Friday (7/16).  Just in time for a trip to Detroit to visit some
> relatives.  We didn't drive the van from the time we got it until the
> exhaust was done.  So, this trip was her maiden voyage for us as the new
> owners.  The PO confirmed that he hadn't even started the van in 3-4
> months prior to us buying it in April.  He probably hadn't even driven it
> regularly in the last 2-3 years.  So, I would venture to say that this
> trip to Detroit was going to be longest ride it has had in quite some
> time.  Especially at highway speeds.
>
> We left Milwaukee Sat. morn about 3:30 am.  Drove through the biggest
> storm I've ever been in.  It was in the southern part of Milwaukee and
> Racine.  Pretty much drove through it by Kenosha.  Hated every minute of
> that.  Tooled through Illinois at a pretty good clip.  Took I94 through
> downtown and picked up the Skyway over into Indiana.  Got back on I94 in
> Indiana just before it heads up into Michigan.  Took it all the way to
> Detroit.  It handled nicely and drove well.  I was following my dad and
> was able to keep up with him at 75-80 mph.  With stops for breakfast, gas,
> rest area (for the kids) it took about 10 hours to get to Detroit.  We got
> to Detroit and as we were going through Detroit up to Bloomfield Hills, we
> got stuck in a serious traffic jam.  The van just died right there on the
> highway.  On a bridge.  Bummer!!  Since we were in stop-and-go traffic, My
> wife got out and ran up to my dad's car and told him we were stuck.  My
> mom pulled their car off on the shoulder and my dad came back and helped
> me push the van down the highway till we got off the bridge and could pull
> over on the shoulder.  Nothing.  Just dead.  We loaded up the necessities,
> kids and us into my dad's car and finished driving up to Bloomfield Hills.
> Dropped my mom, wife and the kids off at my uncle's and then he, my dad
> and I went to this local Amoco station there in Bloomfield Hills and had
> them tow the car to the Amoco.  $35 hook up fee, plus $3.50/mile.  Total
> towing bill was $77.  They were closing for the day (Sat.) and wouldn't be
> able to look at it until Monday.  It still didn't start after they towed
> it to the station.  I stopped back by later Sat. night and it started
> right up.  Hmmmm.   So, I drove it over to the hotel where we were
> staying.  Sunday morning it started up fine and ran Ok.  We were going
> somewhere with my uncle and didn't want to trust the van, so we left it.
> Later that night it started up again and would idle just fine.  But, when
> ever I put any pressure on the gas pedal it would die instantly.  After
> about 20 mins. of warming up it wouldn't die instantly, so I tried to
> drive it around the block a couple of times.  It jerked and kicked like it
> was trying to buck me off.  Then all of a sudden it would take off and
> drive fine.  Everytime I had to come to a stop it would buck and kick like
> mad when I started off and then eventually run fine.  So, I ended up
> taking her back in to the station on Monday morning.
>
> They figured that it was the alternator and alternator belt.  $347 to put
> in a new one.  That's going with a $199 "rebuilt" alternator instead of
> the $711 new one from the local VW dealer (which would have taken 4 days
> to order from TX).  That seems to have been it.  Drives good again.  We
> got on the road leaving Detroit around 4:30 pm and stopped in Battle Creek
> for some dinner and let the kids run around.  Get back out to leave and
> the van won't start.  Nothing.  Not even turn over.  Just "click."  I
> thought possibly a loose wire.  I jiggled every wire I could see and made
> sure they were all connected.  Still nothing.  Then, I just thought I'd
> try anything, I stepped on the brake....nothing.  Put it in neutral and
> back in park....nothing.  Jiggled the parking brake.....started right up.
> We took off and stopped around 10:00 pm at a hotel and the same thing
> happened Tuesday morning.  Wouldn't start for anything.  I jiggled the
> parking brake again and it started right up.
>
> Two questions:
> (1)  Does this deal with the parking brake make any sense?  Since I only
> have to wiggle it a little, it seems like there is a loose wire somewhere,
> but why would the parking brake have anything to do with starting the
> vehicle?
>
> (2)  Does what I describe about the van dying on the highway,
> kicking/bucking furiously and then all of a sudden run smooth sound like
> the alternator?  I couldn't say anything to the mechanic because it
> worked.  After he replaced the alternator/belt it ran fine.
>

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