Date:         Sat, 26 Jan 2002 19:17:40 -0500
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Diesel: Temp gauge gone crazy
Comments: To: Gnarlodious <Gnarlodious@EARTHLINK.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <B8789082.FF7A%Gnarlodious@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 06:57 PM 1/26/2002, Gnarlodious wrote:
>I know in the past i have seen this problem discussed.
>My temperature gauge suddenly will start flashing and the needle will go all
>the way pegged even though the engine is still cold.
>there seems to be no relation to any real conditions that make it do this.
>It starts and stops of its own volition.
>Can anyone tell me what is wrong?

You ('82 diesel, right?) haven't got a coolant-level circuit, so either
your sender is internally shorting to ground, or the sender wire is
shorting to ground somewhere along its length.  Could possibly be an
internal short in the gauge or the panel but not so likely.

It's not doing the gauge any good to short to ground -- even at overheat
temps there is supposed to be noticeable resistance in the circuit.

david


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