Water Temp sensor 1990 Vanagon

[artfulljim]

I've noticed as it's gotten a bit colder, the little red LED light behind the temperature gage needle starts flashing. Today it flashed all day. I stopped for lunch and after lunch it quit flashing. The temperature needed was in the normal position when it had been running for a bit but the light never stopped flashing until I stopped for lunch and came back afterwards.
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Captain Jim Kirk
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[bobbyblack]

Put coolant in your pressure tank, that is the one in the engine compartment to the left rear. the overflow tank should also be checked, opening in the license plate door.

The flashing on that year model means the sensor hanging down in the pressure tank is not contacting coolant.. (assuming the wires are not corroded or have fallen off, etc.)
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[artfulljim]

Thank you! I'll check it out.
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Captain Jim Kirk
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[bobbyblack]

Also, just so it gets said at least once in this thread...

If you have a flashing light on your dash in a Vanagon, STOP IMMEDIATELY. These are not like modern autos where a light means 'tell your mechanic next time you go for an oil change' ..

You may have nearly lost your engine just by letting it flash more than a couple minutes.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[0to60in6min]

Try this...

- Turn the ignition key all the way (not starting the engine), the temp. coolant LED will flash as usual... WAIT for 30/40 sec.

- After 30 sec. start the engine... The temp. coolant LED will stop flashing.

If you don't wait ... The temp. coolant LED will flash for a long time...

[Red Ryder]

[artfulljim]

Thanks for the tip. It did that the other day and it quit flashing after a short while. Today it got up to the normal temp and it never did quit. I checked the antifreeze level and it was down below the add mark but not completely empty. I was keeping a close eye on the temp gauge. After adding coolant it seems to not be flashing. I'll keep an eye on it for a couple of days. Thanks!
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Captain Jim Kirk
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[SCM]

[Red Ryder]

[bobbyblack]

Several issues with WBX engines and Vanagon coolant designs are prone to a slow leak. None are feared more than the failure of a floppy head gasket only seconded by the fire ring flaw, both requiring the 'head reseal' procedure.

Next up would be the glorious coolant tubes that run from front to rear, made of plastic, and truncated at the ends by a steel insert meant to resist the clamping pressure of the coolant hose fasteners. There are easily a dozen places you could loose a few drips each time you drive the bus, and you could easily miss the telltale dark spot where you park it as you pull off from the shopping center.

It is all a learning process of how to actually Look And See what is under there. The educational experience is what running a bus is all about. It takes time.

More to the point, even with a no-leak wbx bus, you still have to know that purging air from the system takes lots of attention to details. One of theSamba's favorite threads has to do with bleeding the system. Look for information on this forum regarding the Libby Bong. Despite the sound, it has nothing to do with inhaling. It has to do with a method of purging air from your coolant system. Unless you have NO air in your coolant system, you may fight this plague until you relent and sell. Keep your cool(ant) and don't be tempted to throw in the towel.

Try this in a web browser:

site:thesamba.com vanagon libby bong

Should get you started.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[artfulljim]

My coolant tank does have maximum and minimum marks on it. I filled it to the maximum line and now it seems fine.
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Captain Jim Kirk
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