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aswah
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2007
Posts: 907
Location: PDX
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 Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 2:22 pm Post subject: a simple question (coolant warning light) |
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My warning light for overheating started coming on periodically recently. The temperature seems to hold perfectly fine. Does this warning light come on for other things? I did do a search on prior posts and realize it could be an air bubble (which I had that problem several years back), etc. I am going to get it checked out soon but still need to drive for a week or two first. Thanks in advanced!
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WIT WA DA DA (Peace and Unity)
Aswah, Lisa, Beaumont and Loose Lucy Too!
1989 Westy
2013 Jetta Sportswagon TDI |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17132
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Vinzanto
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2012
Posts: 247
Location: Kansas City
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah I think the blinking coolant light means low coolant wheras your temp gauge shows the temperature, but I think if your low coolant light is going off that will trigger the temp gauge and almost peg it if I recall correctly. I second the sensor in the expansion tank.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsberg |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10215
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Vinzanto wrote: |
| ...but I think if your low coolant light is going off that will trigger the temp gauge and almost peg it if I recall correctly... |
True on an 84, but I believe that changed later. |
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candyman
Samba Trout Slayer
Joined: December 20, 2003
Posts: 2717
Location: Missoula MT
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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Stupid question but did you check your coolant level? We were just on a bus caravan road trip and my buddy in his 85 kept getting the intermittent blinking light. Turns out his expansion tank was bare and his main tank was low on coolant but not to the min line. So when ever his bus bounced around the level would dip just below the sensor triggering the light. Worth checking to make sure your good there. I have no idea why my buddy never checked his coolant before we embarked on a 1000 mile roadtrip  |
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aswah
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2007
Posts: 907
Location: PDX
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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the levels are good... I check them religiously. If I start my van, run it for a couple miles, turn off the van then turn it back on the light nevers comes back on. I appreciate all the help.
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WIT WA DA DA (Peace and Unity)
Aswah, Lisa, Beaumont and Loose Lucy Too!
1989 Westy
2013 Jetta Sportswagon TDI |
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aswah
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2007
Posts: 907
Location: PDX
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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what is best way to clean the sensors... I know that may sound stupid but I do not want to harm them. steel wool?
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WIT WA DA DA (Peace and Unity)
Aswah, Lisa, Beaumont and Loose Lucy Too!
1989 Westy
2013 Jetta Sportswagon TDI |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10215
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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| aswah wrote: |
| what is best way to clean the sensors... I know that may sound stupid but I do not want to harm them. steel wool? |
Try a soak in vinegar then pick at the crud with something that will not do any damage - perhaps a toothpick or bamboo skewer (depending on how bad they are. Possibly something stronger (such as CLR) may be necessary. |
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greenraVR6
Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2011
Posts: 306
Location: Bellingham, WA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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| aswah wrote: |
| what is best way to clean the sensors... I know that may sound stupid but I do not want to harm them. steel wool? |
or buy a new one, they're only around $8...
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'88 vanagon*****'91 gti 1.8t*****'04 r32*****'11 suburban z71 |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52305
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| greenraVR6 wrote: |
| aswah wrote: |
| what is best way to clean the sensors... I know that may sound stupid but I do not want to harm them. steel wool? |
or buy a new one, they're only around $8... |
2x, It isn't uncommon when trying to remove an old sensor that the sensor just cracks in two. Note that there is an early and late sensor design.
Also consider replacing the expansion tank. They get old and crack just like the sensor.
The circuitry for the light is also known to give problems. Somewhere hidden deep here on The Samba are some threads on this. |
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morymob
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007
Posts: 4683
Location: east-tn
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:09 am Post subject: |
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| Jumper the plug at tank, test drive & see if cond changes. |
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costal_cat
Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2008
Posts: 137
Location: NC
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:08 am Post subject: |
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| aswah wrote: |
| the levels are good... I check them religiously. If I start my van, run it for a couple miles, turn off the van then turn it back on the light nevers comes back on. I appreciate all the help. |
Had same issue same thing came on, turn off van, turn back on goes away, replaced the sensor totally fine now
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87 Syncro Westy
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