Date:         Wed, 27 Jun 2001 11:59:17 -0700
Reply-To:     Bill Kasper <dragonlist@IPMTS.UCSC.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Kasper <dragonlist@IPMTS.UCSC.EDU>
Subject:      Re: blinking coolant light/mech. in Santa Cruz, Ca
Comments: To: Dave Martin <deaddave@EXCITE.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <11855906.993666610509.JavaMail.imail@pugsly.excite.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

on 6/27/01 11:30 AM, Dave Martin at deaddave@EXCITE.COM wrote:

> Hi All,
> I'm new to the list and have been reading up for a couple of weeks. I'm
> looking for a good mechanic in the Santa Cruz Ca. area. I want to have the
> coolant system checked. The van doesn't run hot and levels seem ok everytime
> I check, but that darn light keeps on flashing. I'm new to the whole vanagon
> thing. I purchased my 87 gl camper about a month ago. I love it.


dave, that would be volkscafe (831-426-1244)...i am sure you'll get lots of
response saying the same.  they're at 1823 soquel avenue, near walgreens and
the vw dealer.  there's also volks water works (831-462-3861), 2848 soquel
avenue, just at the freeway overcross where it becomes soquel drive.

i've got experience with volkscafe, and peter is the guy to talk with.  they
do fine work, and well priced.  parts are good value, as well.  apparently
vww is run by a guy who got his start at volkscafe.

you might want to pull the level sender from the expansion tank and make
sure it's clean and working.  also make sure the expansion tank is full up
to the max line before you go to the shop...then watch it while you drive
over there.  the light blinks when the two probes of the sender don't have
coolant between them closing the circuit; i also understand the circuit is
"broken" when the coolant is dilute enough not to pass the current between
the probes (other folk know better about this one!).

i drove with a blinking light for a couple weeks before i got everything
fixed up.  i am still having a problem with coolant leaking from the sender,
so i think i need a new o-ring...or a new cap to the expansion tank so it
keeps pressure going in and out of the fill tank, rather than forcing fluid
out the sender threads.  keep an eye on the temperature needle, *that* it is
the thing that really matters.

good luck!
bill
'87 syncro westfalia
http://www.scruznet.com/~kasper/pics/westy/