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82cabby Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005 Posts: 332 Location: West Falls, NY
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Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2021 2:05 pm Post subject: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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Hi all-
The car in question is a 1982 rabbit convertible, no A/C with the radiator style that does not have an external reservoir. The engine is actually from an 86 Golf GT but the cooling system is all original.
The cooling system works fine. The thermostat opens, the fan runs, heater blows hot air, etc. I measured the temperature of the coolant with the car warmed up and it is in spec. The temperature gauge seems to read correctly.
The problem is the red warning light often decides to start flashing. There doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to it.
Here it is with the car up to operating temp, fan is running coolant is about 180 degrees F.
I shut the car off, let it cool for 20 minutes, checked again and now it’s on even though the gauge reads lower:
Any insights would be much appreciated! _________________ 71 Super, 82 Rabbit Convertible |
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ps2375 Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2014 Posts: 2471 Location: Meridian,ID
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Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2021 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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I had a mkII that would illuminate the light when the interior got hot. A fault in the cluster. I determined that after changing thermostat and fan switch and then checking temps with 2 VW's sitting side by side warming up. |
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82cabby Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005 Posts: 332 Location: West Falls, NY
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Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2021 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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Yeah, I’m afraid this is a cluster based issue. I’ve also installed a new thermostat and fan switch. I REALLY don’t want to pull the cluster out and replace this gauge if the problem is elsewhere so I’m willing to try almost anything else first. _________________ 71 Super, 82 Rabbit Convertible |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 7916 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:55 am Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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Gauge sender and/or related wiring could also be faulty. _________________ ~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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82cabby Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005 Posts: 332 Location: West Falls, NY
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 12:45 pm Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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kamzcab86 wrote: |
Gauge sender and/or related wiring could also be faulty. |
Is the gauge sender the sensor on the flange that connects the block to the top of the radiator? There are two there I THINK the lower one in the photo is for the temperature gauge. I have cleaned the contacts on both but no change. I can try replacing it, it’s certainly easier than pulling the instrument cluster out.
Thank you for the help! _________________ 71 Super, 82 Rabbit Convertible |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12848 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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Umm, what was done with the coolant level circuitry? _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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82cabby Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005 Posts: 332 Location: West Falls, NY
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Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
Umm, what was done with the coolant level circuitry? |
I assume you are asking because of the engine swap? We only swapped the block and the head. Everything else stayed stock. Gained a little bit of displacement but a lot of compression.
It was done 10 years ago but from what I remember, later cars have a coolant level sensor in the overflow reservoir. This car never had an overflow reservoir so no coolant level sensor or circuitry. The electronics in the car are original as is the cooling system. The instrument cluster is from a different car but was a direct swap (it plugged right in). As far as I can tell there isn’t a coolant level sensor, but I could be dead wrong.
Whatever the problem is, it’s only been doing it a week, so something new has happened. _________________ 71 Super, 82 Rabbit Convertible |
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volkybus Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2013 Posts: 481 Location: CASTLETON VT USA
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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It sounds like a coolest level sensor to me but who knows ,my Jetta does that Everytime the coollent is low but mine is newer w remote tank (95) Bill Vt and PR |
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82cabby Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005 Posts: 332 Location: West Falls, NY
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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Actually I’ve noticed a new aspect of the problem. It only happen when I start the car after the engine is warmed up. When the engine is cold and I start the car the light blinks several times then stops as is normal for start up. When I restart the engine and it’s hot the light blinks at start up and never turns off. _________________ 71 Super, 82 Rabbit Convertible |
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volkybus Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2013 Posts: 481 Location: CASTLETON VT USA
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Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 6:40 am Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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Any progress on this blinking light problem?? My Eurovan 93 does it no matter what I disconnect. Temp if fine . Fluid level is fine fans turn on & off fine..It flashes all the time...This happened after I switched the instrument panel.so I had a miliage gauge... & temp gauge is inop. I'm thinking of black tape over it..thanks,Bill |
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82cabby Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2005 Posts: 332 Location: West Falls, NY
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Posted: Tue May 31, 2022 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: Cooling light blinking but temperature is fine |
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Haven’t driven it much this season yet but it doesn’t seem to be doing it at the moment. I’ll update in a few weeks. _________________ 71 Super, 82 Rabbit Convertible |
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