Date:         Fri, 12 Dec 2014 16:12:41 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Vanagon's blinking coolant light problem vs other
              peoples'---it all blends together
Comments: To: Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAB2RwfjodAQaQQTBg7Kr6QpnzRsbn3nWjHg9RuFvm3tV=pXBZg@mail.gmail.com>
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Yes, it's the same thing, the cans are just smaller. I used to repair TVs in my college days, and the heat those vacuum tube circuits generated cooked the big electrolytic capacitors. There are other types of micro capacitors that do not use a wet electrolyte though, like ceramic and Tantalum capacitors. They don't "leak," but can fail in other ways.  David Beierl is the expert on this circuit, maybe he'll chime in.

Stuart

Original message:

This is somewhat OT, but I've recently been looking at and reading about vintage stereo receivers. It seems that electrolytic capacitors start to "leak". Due in part to age? "Cap" replacement is common on these vintage receivers. Not sure if this is exactly what's happening with the Vanagon temp gauge cap but along with other more knowledgable peoples' comments, the capacitor in the Vanagon coolant temp gauge doesn't seem to exempt from this type of normal wear and tear. Not saying this is the only cause of a flaky coolant warning light. But maybe it's something we'll see more of in the coming years?

Neil.




--
Neil n

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