Date:         Sat, 26 Nov 2005 09:36:15 -0800
Reply-To:     Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Das Blinkenlights, continued
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Here's another blinking light story. My 84 Westy's coolant light has
been staying on for about 2 minutes after I start her up. Once the
engine is warm and I restart, the light will react in the normal way
(blinks for a few seconds and goes out).

I checked the coolant level (no air in expansion tank), checked the
sensor prongs (clean), checked the sensor plug (fine), and the grounds
are fine. The coolant was changed last spring by a competent VW
mechanic using the blue VW coolant. If the sensor can detect a weak
coolant to water mix, would this be a possible cause? Is the resistance
different when coolant gets heated up a bit?

Keith O
84 Westy "Brownie" Solar Charged Camper FOR SALE!
90 Westy Syncro

On Nov 25, 2005, at 9:00 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Thu, 24 Nov 2005 22:28:26 -0800
> From:    Kim Springer <kimspringer@RCN.COM>
> Subject: Das Blinkenlights, continued
>
> I have had a few responses to this issue so far.
>
> I never had this problem until a week ago.  The weather has been warm,
> =
> unseasonably warm here in the SF Bay Area.
>
> My tendency is not to be too alarmed, but something has definitely =
> changed, and it hasn't been the weather.  My thought about the long =
> block change that made all this go away for John Lauterbach, is that =
> there was another part he changed that actually fixed the problem, not
> =
> the whole engine?
>
> So we all start our boxers and the light blinks for 5 seconds or so =
> before it goes out.  Why?  Is the sensor a flow meter, so when the
> water =
> gets circulating, that the light goes out?
>
> Or is that just a delay time for the computer to do all its checks on =
> all the systems including the temp sensors?
>
> Perhaps I have a cooling system that needs bleeding, or has let in an =
> air bubble, or maybe I have a flow issue related to an old radiator?
>
> Anyone know?  I'm searching the archives.
>
> Kim Springer
> 2WD Tristar #7