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Wed Feb 11, 2004 10:06 pm

thanks for the heads up on the 88..............

my last concerning question is........the temp light goes through the blink check at start up , them blinks for a while, until engine is warm
(it seems like) ........engine is not hot and fan dosent come on...it just blinks then gone?? bad sender/sensor

thanks in advance, im just double checking everything i can, my kids and wife dont find the adventure of road side repairs as exciting as i do......

ha ha......

Fri Feb 13, 2004 10:06 pm

That light is a coolent level not a temp warning.
You probably have some air in the system. The sensor is mounted in the coolent tank (not the overflow tank) in the engine compartment. That tank has to be Completely Full at all times.
Fill it to the top and then bleed the radiator, that should do it.
Also check the hose from the overflow tank to the coolent tank cap. If it is frayed it may suck in air when the engine cools down.

Mon Feb 16, 2004 5:55 am

Jeff U Idiot its suppose to do that! But if it does it too long then its a sensor/coolant issue. U better stick to air cooled. From the cooler side of the SM Bridge, Al

Sun Feb 22, 2004 3:02 pm

JS gave you the goods Low coolant is probably whats up. Hope your heads are not leaking. Good Luck. Hey remove the engine cover and check the tank to the drivers side of the the tank you can fill from behind the license plate thats where the sensor is.

Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:05 pm

Your on the right track gaining warning understanding before the warning ! To add to your information, the coolant concentration can change the system check behavior. Different mixes of tap water, distilled water and apporved coolant can result in unusual Blink lamp behavior. The flashing coolant lamp should never be ignored.

John

Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:27 pm

It's probably just low coolant. Especially if the gauge still reads normal temp.
Mine has to be FULL to not blink. Yesterday I topped it off, and it still blinked today on the way to work but was fine on the way home. Totally erratic unless completely full.
Not sure why, but I have to top it off every 6 mo. No leak, just general consumption.

Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:17 pm

My two rupees ....
Now the pack of angry preachers will burn me at the stake for that, but to quote: Eppur si muove...

Anyway, that light is -- IN MY VAN--- totally useless as:

Engine cold at start, light blinks and keeps blinking for ever or, even if temperature way above normal ( two gauges independently connected), UNTIL I turn the engine off and restart. Blinking then goes away.
If water temperature does not reach a certain level, like in winter when I had that fancy thermostat subject of a prior post, light will keep blinking for hundreds of miles whether I turn the engine off or not.

Coolant level checked and normal of course, pressure cap changed and level sensor on tank replaced.

Therefore, --IN MY VAN-- the blinking light is ignored and will be suppressed, removed, disconnected, painted black, neutralized, KAPUTT, as a useless piece of VW would be fancy pants gimmick. :snipersmile:

Alright it was 2 1/2 rupees, I guess I went overboard :lol:

Anyway good luck. Those little idiot lights have a very useful purpose, it keeps some chaps so busy, watching, monitoring, arguing, debating, modifying, adapting and hopefully flaming poor devils like me :lol: :lol:

Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:34 am

[email protected] wrote: That light is a coolant level not a temp warning.

Yes, it's also is on later van, when reaching too hot (3/4) the light will also flash as a warning.

Ben

Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:28 am

I have 2 vanagon, 88' and 89' both WBX engine. Both have similar symptom:

When I turn the ignition ON (not starting the engine), the red coolant light blinks, I have to wait a minute or two, it stops..... then I start the engine.

If I don't wait and start the engine right away it will blink for long time (about 30 min. in the trip).. If I want to stop the blinking light I have to tun OFF the engine and restart...

I don't know it's normal or not but I remember that my 85' 1.9 did the same too...

Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:06 am

It's the cluster electronic foil that's aging. If you could swap with another one the problem would be gone.

It can also be a bad connection at the sender itself OR in the junction box in the engine compartment. Check that big round connector, unplug-plug it back a few time.

Round connector with:
Red/black wire (start signal)
Green with black shield OR blue/black (oil pressure)
Yellow red (engine temp to cluster)
Pale green/blue (Expansion tank coolant level sander)
Brown (Ground)
Yellow in the center of plug (don't remember)

You can also remove the cluster and screw all 7mm nuts on the foil.

Plug unplug the cluster main harness/connector a few time.

Ben

Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:15 pm

I was just troubleshooting this situation on my Van and it was in fact a loose connection at the 2 prong connector right at the level sensor on the tank, as mentioned in the previous post. After checking the level, this is the next easiest place to troubleshoot.

Thanks Ben.

Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:25 pm

To you guys who have a blinkin issue even if the coolant is top filled:
This is an inductive sensor. If it gets dirty it will never get a correct measurement. Remove the sensor, which can be done without loosing coolant (it's on the top of the expansion tank), clean it of with a paper towel and maybe with a little dish soap. That's it. Put it back in and the blinking will probably behave like it should.

Normal symptoms for a dirty sensor are nonstop blinking or stop blinking if the van is restarted.