Date:         Fri, 9 May 2003 14:12:58 -0400
Reply-To:     Jim Henry <jch@JCHGIS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Henry <jch@JCHGIS.COM>
Subject:      Re: [Q] coolant light blinking/heating problem?
Comments: To: Chris <superluckyninja@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20030504235720.36581.qmail@web12804.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Chris,
I had a similar problem with blinking light, also after long trip. I too
replaced many things to no avail. Problem eventually proved to be that the
antifreeze was not 50:50 mix, I had added straight antifreeze a couple times
to top off the tank while on the road. Problem will happen also if you add
straight water. Now I only carry pre mixed coolant. Air in system, with need
to "burp" is another likely condition, though your mechanic should have
caught that.

Fix the low speed fan, high speed fan only comes on when you are hot or when
air conditioner is on.

good luck

jim henry
durham, nc
84 westy

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Chris
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2003 7:57 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: [Q] coolant light blinking/heating problem?


Hello Vana-guru's,

I have a 90' westy. recently I went on a trip of 3,500
miles. Now my coolant light, the red LED in the temp
gauge, blinks seemingly randomly and excessively.

I have taken the van into a reputable repair-shop in
my area. They replaced the gauge and un-hooked
everything that they thought may cause such a problem.
They claim that the problem is benign. They say that
there must be some interference between something...
an "electrical ghost"

Has anyone ever encountered such a problem? or does
any one have any ideas as to what could be happening?

My coolant level is fine. My car is running hotter
than normal when in stop-light heavy city areas. When
the fan kicks on, it now KICKS on. It's very loud.
I've been told that this is the high position. before
these problems it would kick on in low, and it would
kick on before the temp gauge climbed so high [second
line before the top of the gauge]. Is this high of a
temperature reading a bad thing?

Thanks for any help!

=chris
90'westy
new to vanagon's, old to vw's.

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