At least no-one has suggested starting it slowly! (sorry, couldn't resist. was hoping for a fix before posting that one)
If your doing a resto then a manual might be a good place orientate yourself with the various bits and locations of these on your bus. it sounds like your battery is flat so charge it up. For location see manual!
Battery fine. And it's not a full resto. All the running gear and underneath was fine before starting the resto. I'm just doing the interior and paint really. I only thing I planned to do underneath was the heating tubes etc. As this was all missing when i bought the van in 2008. Never had problems with the running of it in all that time. It's just suddenly stopped working today. Reading the comments I'll need to check the wires on the starter as that were the heating control pod is on that side and seemed to be differicult to position the pod as the wires are right there. So I may have knocked of wires or done something to it. Thanks for all the comments I'll check all connections first and give it a tap with a hammer. By jumping it, is that the use of s screwdriver across the points/connectors on the starter motor???
Take caution if you are going for the screwdriver across the connectors on the starter. If all goes well the engine will turnover..not start... Sadly I'm on my phone so can't grab links so easily at the minute but there are a few things you can try...like measuring the voltage on the starter when someone turns the ignition key (make sure they have the clutch pressed in just in case its in gear and you are under the wheel and it suddenly turns over)... Have a Google there are loads on the web about this, but the links yesterday should help a little that I posted. Think a few more bits of details are needed to help a bit more. Sorry As for manuals I'm with Dicky get yourself a Haynes manual minimum but a Bentley manual is better.. This will help you get around the mechanics.. Also "keep your beetle alive" book is not too bad in giving you the idea of things of fixing common problems... Hope that helps.. Good luck
Me too - after all a sudden start can be quite startling = more of a gradual creep up you sort of start would be best. But mine sometimes refuses to turn over - starter gets stuck - so a rock back and forth in first gear releases it.
Check if you have a hot start relay fitted - mine decided to give up the ghost so I just bypassed it as per the original install... this caused exactly the same issue.