Date:         Fri, 27 Jul 2001 15:04:45 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Water level/temp warning flasher
Comments: To: TimcoWestyGMC@aol.com
In-Reply-To:  <69.1885c893.2892d287@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 10:19 AM 7/27/2001, TimcoWestyGMC@aol.com wrote:
>Thanks David,
>Finally found the control module (relay?)   with your description of the
>location.
>With it removed, the warning lamp continues to flash.
>(DEFINATELY a faulty gauge?)

Faulty gauge or just possibly faulty regulator, should have mentioned
that.  Input to the gauge (left-hand pin as you face the gauge front)
should be 10v +/- 0.5v.

The usual difficulty is that there's a blinker-test circuit in the gauge,
that shuts off when the big capacitor charges to a certain point.  The
capacitor gets leaky over time and never charges up enough.  When it's in
the marginal state it can be affected by humid weather making the circuit
board a little more conductive.  A minimal fix (not tested) would probably
be to simply remove the capacitor, thus losing the test function -- but you
still have to take the gauge apart for that, so might as well replace
it  while you're in there.  I think that 5-56 machine screws are the right
size to put the gauge face back on (you'll have to check).

It's fiddly work but not really difficult if you can solder and are careful
and thoughtful.

david


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