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devesvws
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Joined: January 05, 2004
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Location: madison va
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 Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:43 pm Post subject: Blinking coolant light at start up, but not with low coolant |
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its a 1991... I had a hose come loose up front last week and thought the light should have come on but the reservoir was still full so I didn't think anything of it until I went to add the lost coolant and checked the level... its not working?? is there a relay that controls the light? location? relay number? I checked the wire and plug and the sensor is only a few yrs old so it must be a relay??
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THE FEW THE PROUD THE ORIGINAL VW WATERBOXER -> looking for a original 91 vanagon owners manual with 1991 on the cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmuiG2tUsP4&feature=share https://picasaweb.google.com/101290228103300323836/BostonBobFlywheelVideo#5543000332201103922 |
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insyncro
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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| If there truly isn't air in the system, the dash pod foil can create issues that are shown as non responsive sensors. |
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Farf
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Joined: July 12, 2009
Posts: 463
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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I think the light blinks when you turn the ignition on as a test. There is a coolant low level relay located in position 3 on the fuse/relay box. Refer to Bentley Manual page 97.201...
I had the same issue and found that there wasn't a relay installed. It should be a #43 relay. |
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devesvws
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Joined: January 05, 2004
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Location: madison va
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DLJ
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Joined: August 05, 2008
Posts: 554
Location: North California
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:16 pm Post subject: red light |
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| There is also a small printed circuit on the inside of the guage. Changed mine and now it work properly. |
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devesvws
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Location: madison va
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atomatom
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Joined: May 15, 2012
Posts: 1867
Location: in an 84 Westy or Bowen Island, BC
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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before you go nuts and destroy your dash, check the wire to the coolant level sensor. very easy for that to become loose. if not connected, it will blink forever.
on starting, if you get a test blink for a few seconds, then it turns off, that is working perfectly. i was not clear on what is actually going on for you.
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84 Vanagon Westy, 1.9L, California raised but defected to Canada. |
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morymob
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Joined: November 09, 2007
Posts: 4683
Location: east-tn
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| Try a jumper in plug from top of tank, see if it works norm if not look at wiring cont. |
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devesvws
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Ahwahnee
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Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| devesvws wrote: |
| ...I did jump the plug with a jumper wire and still no light,.. |
I believe 'no light' when the plug is jumped is correct.
What happens when the plug is removed but not jumped? That should cause the light to blink. |
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PDXWesty
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 10:59 am Post subject: |
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Blinking on starting for 7 times then stopping is normal.
While the van is running, if you unplug the sensor wires, the light should start blinking. Jumping the wires would make it stop.
I'm pretty sure that's how it's supposed to work.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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devesvws
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PDXWesty
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 11:26 am Post subject: |
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I'm confused...If it blinks on start up, then stops, everything is working properly. I don't see what you mean by saying it doesn't blink when the van is running. It's not supposed too.
If the sensor or wiring or dash cluster were bad, none of that would be happening.
The start up test indicates nothing wrong with the light or sensor.
Does it blink when you unplug the sensor? If not, there may be a short in the wiring. Connection all the time between the contacts would make it act like you describe. Use your multi meter to measure continuity between contacts when you pull the plug.
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devesvws
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devesvws
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PDXWesty
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 11:36 am Post subject: |
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| devesvws wrote: |
| the coolant tank is empty right now, so it should be blinking until I fill it back up...yes??? |
Yes, it should blink.
There are two small probes on the end of the sensor. When coolant hits them, it closes a circuit and the light stops blinking. If it never blinks, the circuit is closed somewhere. You need to find where that is by process of elimination.
Have you tried unplugging the sensor leads yet? What happens?
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devesvws
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MarkWard
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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On the 90 I have, I noticed that the key needed to by cycled to shutoff the flashing light after jumping the connector. Seems that once it started flashing it wanted to keep flashing until the key was cycled.
So, say you had a flashing light, and wanted to add coolant while the engine was still running the coolant light would continue to flash even after filling.
I am basing this only on the one Vanagon overflow tank warning I did work with. After all these years and owners it could just be unique to this one too.
I'd be more concerned about the gauge accuracy vs the coolant level. My 82 does not have a coolant level warning. But does have the LED to get your attention if it starts to overheat.
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PDXWesty
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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| devesvws wrote: |
| swapping out the cluster did not work so it must be a broken wire... |
No - A broken wire would cause it to always flash. A shorted connection would cause it to never flash, like you describe.
Again - have you pulled the connector while the van is running and did it start to flash?
That will tell you if the short is in the sensor or in the wiring.
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devesvws
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2014 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
| devesvws wrote: |
| swapping out the cluster did not work so it must be a broken wire... |
yes I have pulled it and it did not flash, so it must be in the wire right? when I probe the end of the plug I get a ground on one side but not the other, if it was shorted or fused together, would I not get the same on the other end??
No - A broken wire would cause it to always flash. A shorted connection would cause it to never flash, like you describe.
Again - have you pulled the connector while the van is running and did it start to flash?
That will tell you if the short is in the sensor or in the wiring. |
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THE FEW THE PROUD THE ORIGINAL VW WATERBOXER -> looking for a original 91 vanagon owners manual with 1991 on the cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmuiG2tUsP4&feature=share https://picasaweb.google.com/101290228103300323836/BostonBobFlywheelVideo#5543000332201103922 |
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my god how long has it been this way??