Date:         Sat, 5 Sep 2009 11:01:47 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Private Re: 84 coolant light.
Comments: To: David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net>
In-Reply-To:  <4a9ef1f2.05a4100a.7aef.ffffa135@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

David has a clearer explanation than I did.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: David Beierl [mailto:dbeierl@gmail.com] On Behalf Of David Beierl
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 6:30 PM
To: Dennis Haynes
Subject: Private Re: 84 coolant light.

At 05:20 PM 9/2/2009, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>When the ignition is first turned on the light should blink for 10-15
>seconds as a bulb test. This control is entirely on the cluster printed
>circuit.

Hi Dennis -- (doing pretty good here by the way, and knowing you were
available has helped).

Actually I believe the spec is three or four.  If it's going longer
it's on the way to failing.  And the actual blink circuit including
the lamp test is inside the temp gauge, so replacing that cap is
tough unless you're up to taking the gauge apart.  Not very difficult
if you're used to small work, can solder and don't mind drilling out
the faceplate rivets.  The delicate heater leads need to be
desoldered, and the board itself desoldered from the mounting posts
and flipped over to work on.  No biggy, but not for everyone.

All that light ever sees is +10, panel ground and the sender input,
so it's easy to absolutely establish whether it's the gauge (usually
is) by unplugging the level controller and checking the +10 and
ground at the gauge.  Also if you can trick it with the key, or it's
worse in humid weather and/or is better after the gauge warms up for
a while, that pretty much nails it.

Cheers,
David
ps -- you can tell 'em if you want.  I didn't want to contradict one
of our gurus, and I've been telling people this for ten years now and
never noticed that the knowledge has ever propagated beyond the
individual with the problem, which I find interesting.  Sooner or
later we'll get on an FAQ or a wiki or something...


  --
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'89 Po' White Star "Scamp"