Date:         Tue, 8 May 2001 11:12:25 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net>
Subject:      Re: Blinking coolant light, again
Comments: To: "Spooner, Robert E." <bob.spooner@middletownpower.com>
In-Reply-To:  <1E3B63268E70484BB2F62357FC56B6BE1A5256@middletownpwr1.nrge
              nergy.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 07:47 AM 5/8/2001, Spooner, Robert E. wrote:
>My coolant light is blinking again.  This time, I have confirmed that there
>is plenty of coolant.  The temperature is in the correct range.  Is there
>another input besides level and temperature that would initiate the blinker?
>I seem to recall someone mentioning that if your coolant solution wasn't
>correct (i.e.: too much water), the light would blink.

If the coolant doesn't conduct electricity well enough the light will
blink.  If you unplug the connector and short across the connector
terminals then start the engine, and the light keeps on blinking, then
either you have an open wire or the gauge is bad or the control module is
bad.  If you unplug the control module (a chore, it's buried up under the
dash, at least on the 1.9l -- has #43 stamped on the top) and the light
still blinks then it's the gauge.  Fixable but a real pain, easier for most
people to swap the gauge.

Final note -- if you can see the controller through the instrument panel
opening -- *if* it's distinctly taller than wide, it will peg the gauge as
it makes the light blink.  If it's roughly cubical then it won't.

d

>   But that might be an
>urban Vanagon legend that this airhead fell for.  Anyway, I'm open for any
>input.

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"