First- copious thanks to all who made suggestions and shared their own 
     experience (my sink runneth over - see below).
     
     Second- I fixed the faucet pump problem (at least temporarily).  Turns 
     out the impeller had come disconnected from the shaft (I could tell it 
     was flopping around in the housing).
     
     Reasoning that I could do it little further harm, I got a hold of the 
     bottom of the housing with a pair of channel lock pliers, and popped 
     it off.  The hole in the impeller (where it fits on the shaft) looked 
     melted - did it jam?  Was it run dry, heated up, and the plastic and 
     metal separated?
     
     Well, I cleaned up the enlarged hole, with a drill bit held by hand, 
     all the while trying to keep it centered.  I inserted a piece of 
     Evergreen brand styrene tube (I "play" with trains and usually have a 
     lot of goodies around), glued it in place with Testor's liquid cement, 
     cut off the excess, and reinstalled it on the shaft.
     
     Once I got the impeller positioned on the shaft at the correct depth, 
     I placed the housing back on the pump and flowed more Testor's cement 
     around the joint.  Let it set up for a few minutes, tested and 
     reinstalled the pump.  Water almost immediately.
     
     Third - On to the Fridge!  Two questions before I start:
     
     1. Does the "don't level - do damage" relationship apply to all three 
     modes, or just to gas?
     
     2. Are the clip on temp sensors mentioned in Derek Drew's 
     "Refrigerator Madness" posting from 1994 still available from Radio 
     Shack?  Anyone have a part number?
     
     Again, forgive me for the more obvious questions - the PO didn't have 
     the Vanagon or the Westfalia manuals - I hope they show up at the 
     dealer's soon!  (Probably just after I figure everything out on my 
     own.
     
     -Blaine