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Date:         Fri, 14 Nov 2014 09:38:54 -0700
Reply-To:     Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Water temp warning light flashing
Comments: To: silcarr <silcarr@AOL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <99040D21-FA9C-4784-A0E7-9F10CB757FFC@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The flashing could be due to the electrical gauges in the circuit not getting enough current. Clean the contact of the red wire at the battery before trying anything else. Ben of Ben's Place in Montreal suggested this, and it worked for me.

Alfred 85 Westy

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of silcarr Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 7:29 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Water temp warning light flashing

I had the same situation as James about a month ago. My '86 Tin Lizzie had been sitting idle for more than a few months also due to failing smog issues here in CA. I bought and changed the catalytic conv (from Bus Depot) for CA, changed the battery, filled up the tank, .....and got the blinking temperature light. In the meantime, levels of coolant remained ok and the temp varied between ok and cool. Drove around L.A. for a couple of weeks but didn't notice the light go out until I drove it out to Santa Barbara (via PCH; poor thing cannot handle the Sepulveda pass). For what it's worth.

Silvia '86 Tin Lizzie

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 12, 2014, at 11:01 AM, James <jk_eaton@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote: > > 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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