[Vwdiesel] Error Code P0380

[Tom Krummell]

Vehicle:  1999 Jetta IV TDI, ALH engine, 62,150 miles
 
 A few days ago the "check engine" light came on, and a query with the
 OBD-II reader got an error code of P0380, "Glow plug circuit."  After
 resetting the OBD-II, the light came on again returning the same error
 code.  A visual on the whole circuit from glow plugs to fusebox didn't
 find anything wrong, but after reading some of the responses in the
 newsgroup (I'm a newbie, BTW) the culprit seems more and more to be a glow
 plug relay (VW #038-911-253).  The "check engine" light comes on about one
 minute after starting, and starting is now (and always has been) darn hard
 for this particular car.  (My wife's 2003 Jetta TDI wagon starts
 immediately.)
 
 Am I on the right track suspecting the glow plug relay?  
 
 For the record, I replaced the timing belt, tensioner, idler pulley and
 anything else that moved in the timing belt area (except the water pump)
 last summer; no problems until now.
 
 TIA,
 Tom Krummell
 Roseville, CA