Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:17:40 -0500
Reply-To: vt <samcvt@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: vt <samcvt@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Temp Gauge
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="windows-1250";
reply-type=response
On my 84 Westy,
Within the past few months, I've replaced the thermostat, the pipe and
fittings which extend left to right from the coolant storage "tank" on the
rear left of the engine compartment across the top of the engine, I've
drained the system twice, made certain there is no air lock, ensured there
is no leakage either to the outside or into the engine itself, checked the
pressures several times, checked the electric connections, verified the temp
gauge works, verified the cooling fan for the radiator is operating
appropriately, verified that the radiator is neither clogged nor
overheating, and still the little red light comes on and the temp indicator
needle pegs itself for awhile (2-5 minutes) until it swings back to
mid-range on the dial.
My conclusion which is confirmed by the fellow who is both mentor to and
mechanic for folks in my region of Vermont who stroke, cuss, cry and laugh
about the caprice of our VWs is that the system is working fine, no
over-heating is occurring, and I should just keep driving until the
situation self-corrects. I've had other situations self-correct, so this is
fairly believable for me ... even though my adrenaline does increase a bit
each time I see that temp light go red on me ...
Sam Conant
Colchester, Vermont
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Drillock" <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 8:12 AM
Subject: Re: Temp Gauge
> Actually, it is a temperature warning light first and a coolant level
> warning light second. Early watercooled Vanagons had no coolant level
> warning system but still had the flashing light, same gauge. The coolant
> level circuit was added by use of a relay that simulates an overheated
> engine and is wired in parallel to the original temp sender.
>
> Whenever the temp gauge raises too high, the led flashes to get your
> attention to look at the gauge. Also whenever the coolant level has been
> sensed low for a short time, the led will flash.
>
> The led is explained in the owners manuals, though not very completely.
>
> As to David's issue, this is something that has long troubled me about
> the method used by many Subaru engine conversions to adjust the Subaru
> temp sender to the Vanagon dash gauge. Many do this with a resistor,
> selecting a resistor value that when put in series with the Subaru
> sender gives a temp gauge reading they are happy with on the Vanagon
> gauge under normal driving. How this combination of parts could be
> expected to give consistent readings at all engine temperatures is
> beyond me but I have not verified that it doesn't.
>
> The coolant level relay was modified during the 1985 model year to give
> improved behavior over the original version. There are 3 versions of
> this control unit, early, late, and latest. The first 2 versions have a
> "43" stamped on the top and the latest has a "42". All 3 have different
> part numbers on them as well. I have beat this horse to death many times
> here over the years so I will leave it at that.
>
> Mark
>
>
> Mike Collum wrote:
>
>> David,
>>
>> The Red light you're talking about is supposed to flash to indicate low
>> coolant level in the expansion tank.
>>
>> The Wasserboxer's expansion tank has a probe that screws into the top
>> where a wiring connector is attached. The probe extends down into the
>> tank and electrical connection is made by the liquid in the tank.
>> Should the liquid get low enough that there is no longer conductivity,
>> the red light will flash.
>>
>> Sorry, It's not a high temperature warning light.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>> David Yates wrote:
>>
>>> This will be simple for those who know . . but . . I’ve had an ’86
>>> instrument cluster in my ’82 Vanagon (with a Subaru engine) for several
>>> years. I have the temp gauge ‘calibrated” by putting a resistor in
>>> the line
>>> as this more or less matches the sensor to the gauge. The needle sits
>>> in the
>>> middle of the dial when the engine has warmed up.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> When I turn on the ignition, the red light flashes a couple of times and
>>> goes off. I gather this is something to do with coolant level in the
>>> original vehicle (there is no sensor my setup). Is this correct? Is
>>> the
>>> red light supposed to come on when the engine overheats? If so,
>>> when/how?
>>> I had a couple of times when the engine overheated but the light did not
>>> come on. It would be good to have this warning.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Any help please? I’d know the answers if I had a later model van, I’d
>>> guess.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>>>
>>
| 
