Date: Tue, 3 May 2011 18:12:51 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Temp Gauge High on Startup + Blinking Light
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hey ! ..that's an ECU self-check feature ?
really ?
I thought it was just to check that that red LED works.
( There is no ECU light ..or 'check engine' light ..or any visual indication
in the instruments that's associated with the ecu, by the way. No direct
connection from ecu to dash in anyway. As far as the dash knows, it could be
a carbed model from the UK )
in any case...your year van has a glitch sort of about that light and temp
needle.
if the low coolant level function goes off ..
it also pegs the temp needle.
I have had my own 84 stone cold, one minute after starting up, do that
...turn on the LED to steady flashing and peg the needle.
This red LED in the temp guage is not associaed with the ecu in anyway.
it doesn't even know if there is an ecu in the van.
it's purely about the temp guage, the level sensor function ..and a control
unit for the level funcion.
You can see the control unit on page 97.43 in the Bentley manual , current
track 33.
and when you turn on the key ....that LED always flashes steadily for about
the first 8 seconds or whatever it is....so you know the light is working.
suggestions ..
check coolant level first of all, in the pressure bottle.
( also check the wire is plugged onto the level sensor connection point on
the pressure bottle ..if it's off, that makes the LED flash continuously,
and on an 83 or 84 ..peg the needle too )
iI's normal that these vans use coolant very slowly ....well not 'normal'
but common.
The often suck coolant out of the license plate bottle slwoly ..
like the level might go down an inch in a month ...and that is fairly common
on poorly serviced and maintained older watercooled vanagons.
It shouldn't use a drop of coolant at all ever of course....but many of them
do.
and I have seen dozens, scores, hundreds even, of 1.9 waterboxer vanagons
with a very empty license plate bottle and a low coolant level in the
pressure bottle. I've got an 83 Westy here right now with that syndrome..
owner never check the coolant level in years. Generally ..that's not good
for them. lol.
if the coolant is not low ...
the level sensor probe thing ...those don't usually fail, to me, but
consider that part.
I have even read where people said that the coolant mixture being too weak
(not enough a-frz ) made that sensor go off, don't know if that's true
though.
( oh btw.......that level sensor ..the cheaper ones break easily ...just
bust right in half. If you do need to replace that part, get the highest
quality one you can find. Like OE grade. )
if I want to trick the circuit so the level feature is out of the picture ..
like just to confrim that I have a working cooling system and temp gauge
...I jumper the two wires going to that level sensor with a resistor .
Either disconnected or jumpered with a wire ..
the LED will flash ..and on your year model, peg the temp needle. but with
a resistor plugged in ..value doesn't matter too much ...you can trick that
part into being happy.
I have not done this myself, but I think if you get a level sensing control
unit for an 85 or later ..if the level function goes off ....the temp needle
keeps reading the real temp, and doesn't 'peg out.'
the control unit looks like a relay, pretty sure, plugged into the fuse
box. I've never have had to replace one though.
The van's owner's manual will tell you about that light function and what
to look for and expect with the warning lights when you turn on the key.
there is an 'ecu check' sort of ...that I like to do ..
that is 'turn on the key' ( but don't turn it to start ) and listen for the
fuel pump to run then shut off.
It sure should do that every time you turn on the key - fuel pump runs about
8 seconds or so, then shuts off. That's a good sign, and pre-pressurizes
the fuel rail.
and it's also when you check that your warning lights are working ..
you're not really supposed to just jump in and turn the key right to 'start'
......but everyone does, until they have a problem.
I have seen MANY vans running around without working Batt. or Oil warning
lights working ..and the people never know, because they never check the
warning lights by turning the key on first, and checking that they work.
Then one day ..........you know.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Camins Bretts" <cunegonde.van.westfalia@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 5:07 PM
Subject: Temp Gauge High on Startup + Blinking Light
So, my 1983.5 1.9l WBX now has a wonky temp gauge AND the ECU indicator LED
won't stop blinking no matter how long I wait for the ECU to self-check, or
run the engine.
Even if I:
> Start the engine cold, or
> Cycle the ECU by turning off the ignition and waiting, then wait with
> ignition on but not starting, or
> Disconnect either water temp sensor, or both (cycling the ECU each
> variation), or
> Disconnect, clean, and re-connect the ECU cable bundle.
>
> The 1.9l cold starts normally at ~ 1200-1400 rpm, and then drops the idle
> to ~ 800-1k rpm when warm, as usual. Engine seeks at hot idle a bit
> wider/faster than normally. Haven't been able to evaluate mpg.
>
> Suggestions, please? Thanks!
> .
>
>