Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 16:33:11 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject: Re: Flashing Coolant Light Sensor Test
In-Reply-To: <BAY101-F20014D5187F78A10D82281AE840@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
William,
First off, the overflow tank (the one you get to by pulling down the
license plate hatch) has nothing to do with the flashing light in any
way. Well, maybe indirectly, but that's not your problem.
You probably won't hurt anything by driving around with the coolant
light flashing as long as the temp needle is low, but if it is
flashing because of a leak somewhere, eventually the temp needle will
rise and you're in trouble.
Yes, you must pull off the hose to spin the plastic cap with the one-
way valve in it in order to add fluid to the tank. You will find that
you cannot simply fill up the entire system from this point by
pouring in coolant, nor from any other point. There is a procedure
involved, and it's outlined in the Bentley manual which every Vanagon
owner should have. Filling the coolant system and getting all the air
out has been registered in the archives many times. If you can't find
it there, write me.
If you fill the system and the light is still blinking, try these
steps that were forwarded to me recently by Mark Drillock and
originally came from David Beierl:
1. Is the expansion tank (you have to get to it by removing the
engine cover) all the way full? If not, get the procedure and fill it.
2. If you unplug the connector on the level probe (the thing in the
top of the reservoir with wires going to it and jumper the wires in
the plug togther, and turn the ignition on, does the light still
blink (after the few seconds it's supposed to?
2A. If is does, you have an open wire, a bad level detector module,
or a bad gauge. Unplug the module labeled # 43 on the fuse relay
panel. Does it still blink?
2A1. From 2A, if yes, you have a bad gauge. Swap it out or replace
the internal electrolytic cap. Drill out the rivets, etc. I saw a
recent post with good instruction on this.
2A2. From 2A, if no, bad module or open wire. Ground pin 5 of
connector K on back of relay panel. Should be a blue/green wire.
Retest. If still flashing, your module is bad, and if that's not it
you have a bad wire.
2B. From 2, if no, then you have a dirty of corroded probe or
connector, or coolant concentration wildly out of spec.
On Jun 21, 2006, at 12:50 PM, william landsman wrote:
> I recenlty had my coolant flushed and since then I have been having
> the same
> problem with the flashing coolant light. My problem is however
> that it
> flashes sometimes and not others, It can be fashing and I will turn
> off the
> raod, shut the car down and restart and it won't turn back on. I was
> looking around in at the coolant reservoir and the main tank has
> the level
> at the (min) line and the overflow is in between min and max. Is
> it ok to
> take the cap of of the main reservoir and fill this tank. And do
> you have
> to take the tube off the cap so you can spin it off?
>
> Thanks,
> Bill
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> From: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
>> Reply-To: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Flashing Coolant Light Sensor Test
>> Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 13:08:03 -0400
>>
>> First, the flashing light due to improper coolant mixture is a
>> Vanagon
>> myth. In a properly working system the light will not flash if
>> you have
>> plain water for coolant.
>>
>> There is a capacitor in the gauge, where the LED is, that goes bad
>> and
>> can cause continuous flashing. Humid weather can add to the problem.
>>
>> Have you had the instrument cluster out recently? Maybe the wiring
>> connectors aren't making good contact.
>>
>> Try turning on the ignition and waiting for 5 or 10 seconds before
>> starting the engine and see if there is a difference.
>>
>> Mike
>> Houlton, Maine
>>
>>
>> David Shepherdson wrote:
>>> I am getting the flashing coolant light in my 87 syncro. It is
>>> not a
>>> problem with coolant level or temperature. I have read some of
>>> the many
>>> archives which would suggest a ground in one of the wires, a faulty
>>> instrument panel, or wrong mixture. One question I could not find
>>> answered
>>> though. If the connector to the sensor is removed and the terminals
>>> shorted, should the light stop flashing (mine does not)? If the
>>> light
>>> simply flashes when the resistance goes below a certain value
>>> then this
>>> would be so but maybe it is more sophisticated than that? Can anyone
>>> answer this?
>>> Thanks,
>>> David
>>>
>>>
>>> ---------------------------------
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>>> Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
>>>
>
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