Date:         Sun, 7 Jun 2015 21:30:02 -0500
Reply-To:     Jeff Palmer <jpalmer@MYMTS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Palmer <jpalmer@MYMTS.NET>
Subject:      Funky temp gauge - update
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Hey I am single handedly trying to overtake the FB page in postings today!  Hope nobody minds.  Just got the van out a month ago and need to catch up.

So here is the latest.  Both temp and fuel gauges reading a little low, temp gauge would often flash indefinitely especially when conditions were humid, then the temp gauge started to peg immediately on startup.  That caused me to finally take action.

Advice was that it may be the voltage regulator (for the low reading situation), maybe the temp gauge (for the terminal flashing issue), and the pegging was unclear.

So I had a new foil that i bought from Jeff Schwaia years ago just sitting around, and i bought a new voltage regulator last year, and bought a new temp gauge this year.  Yes I hoard parts.  Having the VR was handy since Jeff’s foil didn’t come with one :)

Installed the new foil.  Clock started to work!  How about that.  Tach worked too.  No gauges though and then I realized there was no VR.  Finally hoarding has a purpose!

But the temp gauge continued to peg upon startup.  Gauge flashed for five seconds then turned off.

When I parked it last year I believe the coolant level was ok but i check it now and there’s none in the expansion tank.  

So i’m wondering if I’ve spent all this time thinking it was an electronic issue when the gauge is actually doing what it’s supposed to be doing?  What legitimate condition would cause it to peg immediately upon startup?

I need to flush and fill the van anyway - it’s overdue.  I was using the G11 blue coolant which is apparently discontinued.  That’s another story!  I can’t even top it off with the G13 I bought at the dealer apparently.

Any suggestions on the pegging temp gauge?  Maybe I’m just ultra low on coolant (wouldn’t that be fantastic.  Sigh).

Jeff