My temp light is flashing.

[zoti]

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?

[MarkWard]

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]

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.

[Steve M.]

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.
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[zoti]

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.

[dobryan]

[VicVan]

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.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[mikemtnbike]

Broken record here, but if you have to replace the foil, this kit is great and way less money than some other options.

https://www.vanagon.org/products/instrument-cluster-foil-repair-kit
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[zoti]

[Ahwahnee]

[dabaron]

[rogertj]