Date:         Wed, 27 Jun 2001 15:11:10 -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/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"; format=flowed

At 02:30 PM 6/27/2001, Dave Martin wrote:
>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


Note: Turn the ignition off between every test.

1) Check the level in the expansion tank, not just the fill tank.  You have
to open up the engine cover.

2) There's a "sender" -- really a pair of electrodes -- in the top of that
tank.  Make sure the connector is plugged in.

3) Unplug the connector, jumper it with a paper clip or such, careful not
to distort the terminals.  Try the ignition.  If the light stops blinking
after a few seconds, clean the sender electrodes, make sure you have 50/50
coolant mix, get a new sender (Bus Depot, cheap) and O-ring.

4) Unplug the "relay" third from the left in the second row away from the
fuses in the fuse box.  The same position in the first row should be
empty.  The "relay" should have a number 43 stamped on it in white.  Try
the ignition.  If it stops blinking after a few seconds, you have a bad
coolant level control unit (the "relay").  If it continues to blink you
have a bad temp gauge.

david

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