I bet your glow plug fuse is blown or the glow plug relay
is dirty.  Check for voltage at the glow plugs when the light
is on.

I don't know where the glow plug fuse is on a vanagon, but on a
rabbit it's on the firewall... Just follow the wires.

tabe johnson/87 westy

*** cut here ***

Date:    Mon, 8 Oct 2007 00:39:10 -0700
From:    Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: diesel engine not start when cold but great once warm

Dear all diesel know hows ...

i have a 1.6 Turbo Diesel OEM 1989 Vanagon
in the morning or after a 2-3 hours sitting ... it is very slow to catch
when starting ...
Procedure ...
I turn the key on to warm glow plugs no less than 6 times ...
Pull handle on dash (which reminds me of a decompression valve)
put stick in neutral
turn key to engage starter
the engine winds ...
(sometimes because of carburetter trained foot i press fuel ) (but not very
often)
(doesnt help any way)
engine winds for 30 seconds sometimes a minute
then almost  catches ... then another 30 seconds winding
and away she goes and cloud of very white smoke is the expulsions  ...
when it is warm .. the engine goes zoom zoom after first glow plug warm up
...
winds over less than a turn or two ... indeed almost instant start...
no smoke on those starts ...
i have same results regardless of last time i changed oil ...

in the summer this is hardly an issue at all so long as temp outside doesnt
go below 20 degrees c at night

suggestions>>>???
yours