Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:01:00 -0500
Reply-To: James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Water temp warning light flashing
In-Reply-To: <8463902.2547128.1415727897384.JavaMail.root@vznit170080>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Actually, from experience, if the water temp gauge warning light starts flashing AND the temperature gauge is still in its normal range, you can continue driving for quite a while to get to help. All the warning light is doing is telling you that the coolant level in the main tank is low. We had this happen last summer after a coolant system change - it took a long road trip to finally get the coolant level to stabilise, and we had several incidents of the flashing light occur during the trip. Driving another 100km to a safe place to check and top off the system didn't produce any problems - but but the temperature gauge had remained in the normal highway spot, and not risen. Once enough coolant was in the system, though, the incidents of flashing stopped.
If the temperature gauge is also going up past the normal range when the light flashes, then pull over and shut down the engine.
All this is true for a '91; earlier models may vary.
James
Ottawa, ON
'91 Westfalia Weekender
> Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 11:44:57 -0600
> From: ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET
> Subject: Re: Water temp warning light flashing
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> Normal operation for the light. That way you know it's working. Only worry if it starts flashing while driving, which means shut down the engine NOW. or if it won't go out after a few seconds when starting.
> Isn't it nice when you find out that something isn't wrong.
>
> Dave B.
>
>
> On 11/11/14, David M wrote:
>
> My 1987 Vanagon has been off the road for over a year since it failed the emissions test here in Arizona.
> I had been starting the engine every couple of weeks until the gas went bad and the battery died.
> I just bought a new battery (cannot believe how much they cost now!) and put in some new gas and fired up the engine.
> The problem I have now is that the water temp warning light flashes just a few seconds after starting the engine. Does anyone know what the cause might be? Seems like it's way too soon for the coolant to have even warmed up. The coolant level seems ok. I have had to disconnect and connect the battery a number of times and wonder if I could have blown something.
> Any advice appreciated.
>
>
> David (1987 Wolfsburg)
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