Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2022 11:30:55 -0600
Reply-To: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Coolant light mystery
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2022091613250207@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I was able to find that info in the TSB & I’m not sure why they say that Resistances
are required unless maybe that pertains to the part of that circuit that causes the light to
flash when the Temp Rises into the OverHeat Range ~
I contend that it is just a simple switch due to fact that if, with Igni'Key On,
you unplug the Sensors connector the light will Come On/Flash & if you then put
a jumper wire across the 2 connections in the connector, turn Igni,Key Off & On,
& if the rest of the Circuit is functioning correctly, ie No Opens, the light will go
Off > No Resistances Required ~
> On 16 Sep , 2022, at 11:25 AM, Ed McLean <email99@NC.RR.COM> wrote:
>
> Please check the following Vanagon Technical Service Bulletin clip where it
> states the resistance, checked with a digital multimeter, must be between
> 31K Ohm and 65K Ohm and the coolant concentration must be below 60 percent
> for proper Coolant Indicator LED operation.
>
>
>
> https://beakerbus.nl/2016/vw-vanagon-technical-service-bulletins/
>
>
> Technical Bulletin
> Group: 90
> Number: 92-03
> Date: February 29, 1992
> Subject: Coolant Indicator LED is Flashing at Normal Temperatures
> Model(s): All Models
>
>
>
> * refer to appropriate wiring diagram
> * disconnect coolant level sensor electrical connector
> * check coolant level in coolant reservoir
> *** MUST be between MIN and MAX marks
> * set digital multimeter, Fluke 83 (US 1119) to ohms function
> * check resistance of level sensor with digital multimeter Fluke 83
> (US 1119)
> *** must be between 31K Ohm and 65K Ohm with correct COOLANT LEVEL
> AND COOLANT CONCENTRATION.
>
> NOTE
> If coolant resistance is NOT within the above specifications, the
> coolant MUST be drained and replaced with NEW coolant mixture of
> 50 percent water and 50 percent phosphate free coolant antifreeze,
> Part No. ZVW 237 104. (In Canada, use Part No. G 001 100). The
> mixing should be performed before filling vehicle cooling system.
>
> *****************************************************************
> * CAUTION *
> * Coolant concentrations of 60 percent or higher will cause the *
> * overtemp / low coolant LED to activate. *
>
> End
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:35:38 -0600, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>
>> Pretty darn sure that that Coolant Level Probe in the Expansion
> Tank
>>
>> is nothing more sophisticated than a simple Switch > When the Probes are
>>
>> Submerged > Circuit Closed,, When Coolant Level drops below Probes the
>>
>> Circuit Opens ~ Any Break in the Circuit will cause the Light to come on ~
>>
>> There are some Electronic Components within the Circuit that can cause the
>>
>> light to have some odd behaviors @ times ~ I have seen, in several
> different
>>
>> Vanagons, a condition where if the IgniâKey was turned to Start in a
> normal
>>
>> way (1 continuous move from Off to On to Start) the Light would Stay Lit
>>
>> but if the IgniâKey was turned to On & left in that position for 10-15
> Secâs
>>
>> before turning to Start then the Light would go Off & act normally ~
>>
>> I suspect that D Beierl or Dennis H or others may have an explanation for
>>
>> that condition ~
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 16 Sep , 2022, at 9:33 AM, Ed <email99@NC.RR.COM> wrote:
>>>
>>> I believe the coolant light circuit measures resistance between the two
> pins
>>> of the sensor in the plastic tank. If the resistance is out of range
> then
>>> the light will come on. If the coolant is low or sloshes away from the
>>> sensor pins then the light will come on. If the coolant has too much
>>> antifreeze then the resistance between the pins will be out of spec and
> the
>>> light will come on. If the pins are dirty or corroded then they might
> read
>>> incorrect resistance. There could also be a fault in the wiring for the
>>> light that could cause the light to come on. I don't know how to test
> the
>>> sensor.
>>>
>>> That all I have.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, 16 Sep 2022 05:57:37 -0700, David McNeely
> <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Doesn't the coolant light indicate the level of coolant, not the
>>>> temperature? I have actually had it come on when I hit a rough spot in
> the
>>>> road, back some years ago. Bouncy, bouncy, and the light blinked on and
>>>> off.
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Sep 16, 2022 at 5:16 AM Ed McLean <email99@nc.rr.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> The original note was a short question asking why the coolant light
> would
>>>>> turn
>>>>> on and off at random times for no apparent reason while the temperature
>>>>> gauge
>>>>> remained in the normal range.
>>>>>
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