OK, I need some advice - what's going on here? I was driving along in my '87 Westy yesterday when my red coolant light started blinking with the temp gauge at it's normal position. I pull over and note that the coolant reservoir is empty and the belts are all OK, plus the water pump is definitely spinning. So I fill the reservoir and get back on the road. [Extra important info before I continue: I had my heads done about 5000 miles ago, and have about 10000 miles on a new water pump. There's no puddles under tha van, plus my fan is working OK (at least it kicks on in traffic or after I stop.] The light is still blinking after a couple of miles, so I pull over and check things. The fluid level in the reservoir has dropped very little. Belts still OK. Hmmmmmm. I get back on the road and notice that while the red light continues to blink, my temp gauge is reading normal. So I gingerly ride the 8 miles home and park it. There's no sign (sound or smell) of the engine overheating. This morning I note that the reservoir is almost empty again, so I refill it, fire it up, and hit the road. Within 100 yards the red light is blinking again! So what's happening? The manual says a blinking coolant light means low coolant - fill the reservoir! But could the coolant be so low that I need to fill it more than once? And what is the process involved in the system emptying the reservoir ... how long should that take? Could there be something more ominous wrong here? Is it save to drive the van if the temp gauge is normal but the red light is blinking? dan -- Dan Resler Dept. of Mathematical Sciences Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA 23284-2014 USA email: resler@liberty.mas.vcu.edu |
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