Coolant low warning light

[garra]

I am back with a variation of this problem which started on my trip of a few weeks ago. My coolant light started flashing even though the level was correct according to the reservoir markings. After I got back and opened the engine compartment, yes the level was correct, I unhooked the cable from the sensor and the light still flashes.
Is there another sensor that feeds this light, or do I have a short in the cable?
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1984 Vanagon Country Home Camper, 4 sp

[lucianosanchez]

[lucianosanchez]

Also forgot to mention that if the light flashes with a cool engine it might be a bad gauge, in which case use the link above to test for that.

Also check your grounds.

I think you can bridge the two pins/wires that go to the water level gauge to troubleshoot. If the light stops flashing with the two wires bridged then it is a bad water level sensor. If it continues to flash, the issue is probably elsewhere.
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1983.5 Aussan Brown Westfalia | 2016 to 2020
1983.5 Beige Westfalia | 2019 to Current

[garra]

Back to the flashing over temp light. Sunday morning it was cold, so cold the water froze in the pipes for domestic water. When i fired motor to warm interior the over temp light didn't flash. It has from the next start onwards, just like it was before. Installed new temp gauge sending unit, when i unscrewed it about a half cup of water came out, is this normal??? Figured a whole bunch would be flowing out, checked holding tank, full to top. Could this be a sign of a stuck thermostat?
As far as gauge reading, they behave normal like always, runs below the light, when climbing a hill creeps just past light.
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1984 Vanagon Country Home Camper, 4 sp

[blackglasspirate]

Not sure about the thermostat but I would check the circuit boards and connections on the back of your tach. There's a voltage regulator for the gauge on the back of there ( http://www.gowesty.com/product-details.php?v=&id=23855 ).
Given that the back of those gauges tend to break down from brittle plastic, it could be that something is cracked and it's not making a good connection. Or you may need a new regulator.

That may not be your problem, but I've had intermittent coolant light issues before that I traced back to that.
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'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

[E1]

Start with the simple stuff.

As posted hereabouts last night:
The Ultimate Blue Cap test, starring Ian, the household-name VW God:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RT8Ew43mNg4
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[wcdennis]

This GoWesty article explains how the warning system works:http://www.gowesty.com/tech-article-details.php?id=79

No one has mentioned checking your coolant level warning control unit (which looks like a relay and often called one)
http://www.gowesty.com/product-details.php?v=&id=21048
You should locate it and unplug it. If your coolant gauge LED continues to blink, you have a problem with the circuit in the gauge. There are instructions on how to fix it (by replacing a small capacitor), or you can just replace the whole gauge.

If the light does stop blinking when you pull the coolant warning control unit, then you do have a problem with the wiring to the expansion tank sensor, or the sensor itself (which is only a couple of metal prongs, which can be cleaned easily).

[crazyvwvanman]

That write-up is useful but needs to be redone to fix the errors and omissions. Don't know how long ago he wrote that but surely somebody at GW must be able to correct it.

Mark

[wcdennis]

Look at page 3 of this thread for the instructions on how to fix your gauge if it still blinks after unhooking the control relay. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
There is also a good diagnostic post by msinabottle on this thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=168239&highlight=gauge+repair+capacitor