Date:         Sat, 27 May 2006 19:16:06 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: cluster swap from 85 van to 86 van
Comments: To: Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
In-Reply-To:  <6.0.3.0.0.20060527175301.03171590@buncombe.main.nc.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

If you have reseated the 14 pin connector a few times and the problem
persists, the gauge may be bad. There is a small circuit inside the
gauge module that flashes the led on power up as a capacitor slowly
charges. The capacitors go bad, causing the the led to stay in flash
mode if you will. Usually it starts as an intermittent problem and gets
worse over time until it just always flashes. I have replaced several of
these bad gauges. The gauge in the clock cluster is slightly different
and does not seem to suffer as often from this malady. Some people here
have reported that if they turn the key on but don't start, wait until
the flashing stops, that it will work ok after that.

Mark

Edward Maglott wrote:

> I want to swap the cluster with tach from my 85 to the 86 which has no
> tach.  That should require no additional wiring, right?  Everything seems
> to be working except I have a flashing coolant light.  the gauge stays at
> the bottom but the light keeps on flashing.  Coolant is not low, and it
> doesn't flash with the 86 cluster in place.
>
> Thanks for any advice.
> Edward
>
>