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zoti Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007 Posts: 2060 Location: Plano, TX USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 10:18 am Post subject: My temp light is flashing. |
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88 2.1L.
My temp light started flashing intermediately last week and acting all weird. I think it’s an electrical problem.
My temp and gas gages stopped working all of a sudden then came back to life after 20 minutes they started working again.
The thermostat housing, thermostat, temp 2 and gage temp sensor are all new.
The coolant tank is full and overflow is within the lines. The car is definitely not overheating.
Which leads me to think this is some sort of an electrical issue but I don’t know where to start.
Any ideas? |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17109 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 10:24 am Post subject: Re: My temp light is flashing. |
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First step would be to temporarily disable the level switch, by unplugging it and jumpering the plug with a piece of wire.
You'll notice each time you cycle the key, the light flashes roughly 10 times. So, that both gauges worked and didn't work and worked again, sounds like they lost power temporarily. Triggering the light when they got power back.
So, you need to inspect the foil where the cluster is plugged in and the plug connector.
There are a couple vendors selling a rebuild kit for the electronics of the cluster if the foil is too problematic, Since the engine didn't quit, its likely not the ignition switch or the fusebox. _________________ ☮️ |
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zoti Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007 Posts: 2060 Location: Plano, TX USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 10:28 am Post subject: Re: My temp light is flashing. |
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Thanks. Will try that.
Weird thing is, I turned the key on just now and the light was not flashing. Everything else worked.
Started the car and it started flashing and won’t stop. |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6829 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 10:47 am Post subject: Re: My temp light is flashing. |
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A good way to clean the tarnish off blade terminals and the "T14" terminal strip is this pen made to clean stuff like that.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058EDPZU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's basically a pen with small monofilament fishing line in a bundle coming out the end of the pen. Adjustable length it just cleans dirty copper terminals (any metal), without damaging them. _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.
Last edited by Steve M. on Thu Apr 15, 2021 11:16 am; edited 1 time in total |
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zoti Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007 Posts: 2060 Location: Plano, TX USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 10:51 am Post subject: Re: My temp light is flashing. |
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Started the car just now, the gages were not working. Tapped on the back of the cluster and they started working. So I guess I’m taking it apart soon. |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16501 Location: Brookeville, MD
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VicVan Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015 Posts: 1840 Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 11:29 am Post subject: Re: My temp light is flashing. |
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Hi,
I had the exact same problem. I did all of the above, to no avail.
Turns out it was the voltage reducer that did not make good contact with the connector on the foil:
(picture credit GoWesty)
Unscrew, gently disconnect and sand/brush/clean the connectors, make sure the spades on the black female connector on the cluster are tense enough, dielectric grease, and off you go. _________________ '90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2795 Location: North Carolina
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zoti Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007 Posts: 2060 Location: Plano, TX USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 11:35 am Post subject: Re: My temp light is flashing. |
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VicVan wrote: |
Hi,
I had the exact same problem. I did all of the above, to no avail.
Turns out it was the voltage reducer that did not make good contact with the connector on the foil:
[Pic] (picture credit GoWesty)
Unscrew, gently disconnect and sand/brush/clean the connectors, make sure the spades on the black female connector on the cluster are tense enough, dielectric grease, and off you go. |
Thanks. I’ll try that in the next few days. Gotta replace the Speedo cable and install a 3D printed brace for the broken tabs in the cluster. |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9797 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 11:47 am Post subject: Re: My temp light is flashing. |
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VicVan wrote: |
...Turns out it was the voltage reducer that did not make good contact with the connector on the foil:
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Also be sure that little brass nut is tight. |
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dabaron Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018 Posts: 2559 Location: Philly, mang
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:13 pm Post subject: Re: My temp light is flashing. |
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ditto. easy install and super easy to debug. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo
BiWerks Design, LLC |
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rogertj Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2008 Posts: 505 Location: Tijuana, Baja California. Mexico
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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: My temp light is flashing. |
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dabaron wrote: |
ditto. easy install and super easy to debug. |
Yeap! Thats the one that I bought but havent been able to run the van but everything is lighting up with the key. Just dont forget to put 2 tie downs to the connector if you do this route so that it does not disconect from the main connector _________________ Roger
Had a Carbureted ABA after engoing the heck out of it now going for ABA 2.0 Jetta EFI ill put a garrett in to the tin can later or maybe go electric?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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