Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 11:33:48 -0800
Reply-To: Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: My Vanagon's blinking coolant light problem vs other
peoples'---it all blends together
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEuKQ+RfmAvo2=JtEssg333gwEr-8oZ5=kNQgp88pjvmwpg@mail.gmail.com>
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> .... Not elegant, but I have better things to do than
> fiddle ... repeatedly, with something the VW engineering didn't get
> quite right.
On my I4 swap, with a brand new coolant level warning module
installed, the first coolant gauge I installed had an intermittent
lingering blinking coolant light; if I left the bus sitting for a few
days, after starting the bus the light would stay on for a period of
time then go out. If bus driven daily, this didn't happen. This gauge
was 25+ years old from a higher mileage 1985 1.9; a failing coolant
level warning light capacitor is to be expected? I replaced this gauge
with one from what was likely a lower mileage diesel. This gauge has
been reliable.
On a recent trip in my I4 swap bus, while coasting down a long steep
mountain pass in Oregon, the coolant level warning light did exactly
what it was intended to do. It warned me of a low coolant situation.
Due to a certain level of engine swap arrogance on my part, and past
gauge history, I assumed the gauge was at fault, so keyed the ignition
on/off while driving. The light went out, but then came back on.
Indeed there was a coolant loss happening.
Image showing cause of the coolant loss (albeit a VERY slow leak) on
the Jetta coolant expansion tank installed in my swap:
http://tinyurl.com/p5pg5ex I imagine this type of failure can happen
on the WBX expansion tank? I digress.
IMO, age of the part not withstanding, the coolant level warning light
in the Vanagon coolant gauge works as the VW engineers intended.
;)
Neil.
On 12/12/14, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> Black tape will do the job. Then you can figure a way to work around the
> coolant light. I installed an oil temp gauge, used in tandem with my
> coolant temp gauge and my alternator light I can deduce what is actually
> happening inside my motor rather than having to wonder if that blinking
> light means anything THIS time, or if it is simply sending another false
> warning.
> After wasting time beating that particular "Dead Horse"... The sketchy
> blinking light that gets so much bandwidth amongst Vanagon owners... I
> found a better way. My Blinky-Light has been taped over now for 4yrs and
> about 70k miles. Not elegant, but I have better things to do than
> fiddle-d-f**k, repeatedly, with something the VW engineering didn't get
> quite right.
--
Neil n
Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>
1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>
Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>
