Dan, me thinks you may want to take a look at your parking brake switch.  I
can't remember if one can adjust it or not but it may be always making
contact.  It has been some time since i looked at one but i seem to remember
it around the hand brake lever somewhere.  Pull off the plastic cover that
covers the lever should be somewhere around the floor right next to same
lever.  Mine is a 1987 4 speed manual.  I would think your van is the same.

87  Vanagon GL  7 pass.
90  Jetta  TD
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Scott" <vancampers@ATT.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 9:38 PM
Subject: parking light?

> I have an '85 Westy. The dashboard warning light for the parking brake has
> decided to come on and stay on; I certainly keep checking the emergency
> brake handle to be sure that it is down, but the light stays on. I first
> noticed this when I had the headlights on, but now it happens all the
time.
> I pulled the cover over the speedo cluster to look at the connections, but
> everything looks fine. Is this a common problem? Any ideas?
> Thanks in advance.
> Dan
>