Russell,
That sounds pretty nasty...  3 hours to start.  I probably don't have
the right answer, but I guess you tried the following:
  1) cleaning all battery terminals and checking battery water level
  and voltage using a multimeter
  2) checking the 1/4" diameter copper braided ground wire under the
  van on the drivers side that connects the transmission to the
  chassis
  3) checking the voltage at terminal 50 on the starter solenoid.  If
  it's low, try running a wire directly from the positive terminal on
  the battery.  Or put in a starter relay  (I just did this last week)
  4) rapping the starter with a hammer a few times to free it up
  5) check the ignition switch

I have a similar problem and feel your pain.  But, my westy somehow
starts every time.  Does your van have no sound when you turn the
ignition or is the starter motor rotating and the engine doesn't fire?

-- Craig
--
Craig Oda   craigoda@communitybuilders.info
VW Info: 1983 VW Westfalia, water-cooled, automatic

On Tue, 14 May 2002, Russell, William wrote:

> John,
>
> I have virtually the same problem.  I have a 1980 Vanagon.  I've been
> trying different things.  A couple of days ago, it took 3 hours to
> start.  I heated the engine from underneath with a catalytic propane
> heater (yes, I'm sure that's dangerous).  The problem seems to be the
> cold/damp weather.  I've considered that my "cold-start injector" may
> not be operating correctly but I'm new to this whole mechanic thing.
> Please share anything you discover.
>
> \/\/i!!y
> 1980 Westy "Jazzy"
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
> Of Jonathan Krouse
> Sent: May 14, 2002 13:12
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: My vanagon has trouble starting sometimes,, help please
>
> HI,
> I have a 89 2.1 L.  Lately in the morning the van won't want to start
> and
> after about 5-10 tries it will fire right up.  It doesn't do it every
> time.
> Usually in the morning.  It's happened the last three days in a row.
> Any
> ideas?
> Jon
> 89 wolfsburg
>