sure, a dead sender will keep the light from coming on.
it has to supply ground to turn on the light.

you can access the wire from above easily...
left side of engine, under the left intake runners ..
single brown wire with connector junction in it.

undo that, ground the end going to the van, ( not the wire going to the OP
sender ) .
turn on the key, LED should light.

the poster that referred to the Dynamic Oil Pressure circuit..
that's for 86 to 91 vanagons, not single oil pressure switch 83 to 85 1.9
wbxr engines.

also...wiggle or otherwise check large connector to the instrument panel,
T14 it's called in Bentley wiring diagrams.

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Riley" <mkriley@FUSE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 6:26 AM
Subject: dead oil pressure light

> 85 vanagon  has no oil light at all even at key on.  Would a bad sender
> stop the light on check.
> Too cold and wet here to mess with the sender now. Any suggestions
> thanks
> mike