Date:         Tue, 2 Mar 1999 10:18:58 -0600
Reply-To:     Joachim Beek <jbeek@NASGRO.JSC.NASA.GOV>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joachim Beek <jbeek@NASGRO.JSC.NASA.GOV>
Subject:      Re: '85 temp warning light won't turn off.
Comments: To: KENWILFY@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <da3a5dce.36db42e3@aol.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Mon, 1 Mar 1999 KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:

> I have had similar problems with Jettas (which use basically the same coolant
> level sender) and my '85 Vanagon.  When that light is flashing and the temp is
> normal then it is supposed to be telling you that your water level is low.  If
> it is not low (double check this first) then it could be that your sender in
> the water tank is bad.  They sometimes go bad around the two rods that stick
> down in the tank.  Coolant comes up the rods and seeps into the area where the
> plug, plugs into the top of the tank.  Now the coolant sensor goes haywire and
> the light blinks when it is not supposed to.  Just unplug the sender and look
> at where the two prongs are on the top of the tank.  If there is wetness in
> there then this is your problem.  The wetness up there could also be caused by
> hairline cracks in the expansion tank around where the sender screws in.  This
> is a common problem with these tanks.
> Let me know what you find.
> Ken Wilford
> Van-Again
> John 3:16
>

Ken,
interesting that this question should pop up now.  My temperature "idiot"
light started flashing a couple of days ago, but only when the coolant has
warmed up, incidentally.  Expansion tank had coolant in it, refill tank
was low, but the plug did have wetness in and around it.  Recently (before
the light started flashing) I had the water pump replaced, so I thought the
light flashing and coolant levels in the two tanks might have been due to an
air bubble working its way out.

I'll check for cracks, but is there any way to test the sensor itself?
Bentley is stumm on this, so maybe not.

Joachim
90 GL
78 Scirocco