Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2017 15:23:33 +0000
Reply-To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Blinking coolant light woes
In-Reply-To: <CY1PR20MB0029363B5A9F8036A44A029AA05F0@CY1PR20MB0029.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
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I considered those things, Dennis, and yes you are right if you can't
actually watch it "under load" you don't really know. But I"ve had this car
a long long time and I know how the needle reacts to low coolant. I am
pretty good at filling it though it seems a little trickier with the
"upgraded" later model coolant reservoir. But I did take great pains over
weeks to ensure that there was no air in the system, often removing the
radiator bleed bolt to make sure no air was there, at least. But last night
my new German valve/caps arrived and I put one on. I just got back from
driving the car this morning, and I will soon know if coolant is being
drawn down like in the olden days before Meyle parts : )
If it looks like the system is working like it should with the new cap, I
will remove the jumper see if things are tolerable.
Will check further today and reply.
Jim
On Sun, Feb 19, 2017 at 9:15 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> There is a possibility that you have a coolant level problem or the system
> is air bound. When the system is cold and you start the engine the pump
> will draw the coolant level down in the expansion tank to fill those voids
> in the system. The faster the engine turns the more it can pull down
> exposing the probes and activating the light. As you pull over and the
> engine returns to idle the bottle fills again so when you go back there it
> appears full. Fills even more if you turn the engine off. As the engine
> warms up the coolant and air in system expands and after a while even at
> speed the expansion tank is filled enough to cover the probes and turn the
> light off.
>
> As for the pressure cap quality regardless of brand they all have issues.
> You need to be able to test them.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Jim Felder
> Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2017 6:09 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Blinking coolant light woes
>
> I've recently had my share of problems with a blinking coolant light. I
> have done everything I could think of to do:
>
> 1. New pressure cap (but it's Meyle brand, so a better one is next) 2.
> Replaced the gauge with a re-capacitored one David B did for me years ago
> 3. Cleaned all the terminals and finessed the connectors on the foil.
> 4. Made sure grounds were in fact grounds.
> 5. Made sure the coolant was as full as possible, and was mixed properly.
>
> It would not stop blinking at some point on a trip as short as three of
> four miles. I ended up jumping the connector so that the light will at
> least stay off, and it does. I have all new hoses and tank, and no other
> leaks so I am not worried about the coolant going low on me.
>
> Any ideas as to where to look next? Before I jumped the connector, it
> would usually--but not always--start off without blinking, but after a few
> miles it would begin. I have pulled over to check the coolant a lot and
> never found it low.
>
> Jim
>
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