Date:         Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:08:13 -0400
Reply-To:     Sam Conant <samcvt@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sam Conant <samcvt@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

Excellent, Dennis.  Tks much!
SamC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 4:51 PM
Subject: Re: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good


> Next time it happens, pull off the road and do not shut off the engine.
> Open
> the engine lid and check the level in the main expansion or pressure tank.
> This is the one to the left, under the pressure cap. Is it completely
> filled? Yes, problem with sensor circuits. No, Coolant is low. Rev engine.
> Does the level go lower? Yes, air in system. Grab and squeeze a hose. Is
> it
> hard, like a bicycle tire? Yes, pressure cap OK possible combustion gasses
> in system. If soft, bad cap or significant leak.
>
> Turning engine off or even at idle, coolant in a system with air will go
> back into the bottle and you will think the system is full and you got a
> false alarm.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
>>From: "Sam Conant" <samcvt@comcast.net>
>>To: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>,<vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>Subject: Re:      Re: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good
>>Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:58:17 -0400
>>
>>My 84 Westy shows the coolant red light and the gauge maxes regularly.
>>I've had several seasoned VW mechanics look throughout the system for a
>>problem. I am not losing coolant, the system moves coolant throughout, and
>>the reservoir shows appropriate levels.  The mech here who I trust without
>>question (he has helped me maintain the vehicle from 11k - 202+k miles)
>>says there is nothing wrong ...
>>Sam Conant
>>Colchester, Vermont
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Haynes"
>><d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 11:27 AM
>>Subject: Re: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good
>>
>>
>>>The problem with relying on the temparature guage is that the sensor
>>>relies
>>>on coolant being there and flowing. If not for the steam, an empty
>>>cooling
>>>system will have the gauge reading cold. Especially if the sensor is
>>>mounted
>>>in a remote, plastic housing. That is why you have the alternator light
>>>to
>>>let you know the pump stopped turning and the coolant level light to let
>>>you
>>>know the level is low and the pump is sucking air.
>>>
>>>Dennis
>>>
>>>
>>>>From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
>>>>Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
>>>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>>Subject: Re: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good
>>>>Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 21:41:48 -0700
>>>>
>>>>   Yah, you are right.  I couldn't figure out how to wire it into the
>>>>Cabriolet motor, and at the time, I figured.."Hey, if the coolant goes
>>>>out,
>>>>I will probably see the temp. gauge go up anyway"...but, of course, that
>>>>may
>>>>be wrong, with the Vanagon...
>>>>   Actually, I am putting in a couple of more gauges right now..an oil
>>>>temp
>>>>gauge is one thing I really like to have on my cars, and a real oil
>>>>pressure
>>>>gauge..I have a bunch of Autometer gauges left over from my race car..
>>>>   Don Hanson
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>>>To: "'Don Hanson'" <dhanson@GORGE.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>>Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 8:23 PM
>>>>Subject: RE: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> > When a coolant leak causes your engine to fry, you will wish the
>>>> > light
>>>>was
>>>> > working.
>>>> >
>>>> > Dennis
>>>> >
>>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>>> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>>>>Behalf
>>>>Of
>>>> > Don Hanson
>>>> > Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 10:53 PM
>>>> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>> > Subject: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good
>>>> >
>>>> > Mine (84 I-4 conversion faux-Westie) was flashing when I bought it.
>>>> > Likely a function of it being converted to the I-4 motor..I tried and
>>>> > tried to get that sucker to stop flashing...Until I finally took out
>>>> >  >
>>>>the
>>>> > whole clock and made a nice little ovoid piece of black electrical >
>>>>tape.
>>>> > Put that right over that bulb and re-assembled the instrument in the
>>>>dash.
>>>> > You can't even see that black tape in there, and the light?  Probably
>>>> > still flashing, but who cares?
>>>> >   Don Hanson
>>>> >
>>