Date:         Wed, 21 Aug 2002 13:39:11 -0500
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Crazy Coolant Light Question
Comments: To: gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I feel that you would have to take a new engine and cooling system and
rinse it with distilled water and then refill it with distilled to get a
resistance high enough that the system would think that no coolant was
there.  About a year ago I did some actual measurements.  See my post in
the archives from 27 July 2001, called "Coolant resistance thru coolant
level probe".
 Of course I was comparing these readings to the threshold for my '91.
With other years the circuit may be different, so YMMV.
  The sensor is simply 2 metal prongs.  If it is not leaking, there is
no need for replacement, although I suppose you could clean it off.

Larry A.


gary hradek wrote:
>
> Larry,
>      You are partial right and partial wrong.   The
> light-sensor combination is sensitive to
> electrolyte/ion concentration.   Pure distilled water
> would make the light come on.   There exist some
> amount of antifreeze which contains ion that will
> allow current to flow between the two electrodes and
> the light goes out.   Doubt that it takes much and if
> you have very hard water you might not even need the
> antifreeze.   The design is for the indication that
> there is no fluid more than the kind of fluid but it
> does give some indication of antifreeze concentration
> when distilled water is used.   It is possible if your
> coolant is right on this edge it could make the light
> act crazy, particuliarly if your sensor is in need of
> replacement.   regards gary
> Date:    Wed, 21 Aug 2002 08:44:09 -0500
> From:    Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
> Subject: Re: Crazy Coolant Light Question
>
> > If the concentration of coolant is off it gets
> really
> > sensitive.
>
> I disagree
> common misconception
>
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