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felixbobcat
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2017
Posts: 173
Location: Los Angeles
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 Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 1:49 pm Post subject: Temp Warning light problem |
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I'm getting a flashing warning light on the temp gauge after the van has been run for a while then turned off and then restarted. When I first start the van the light blinks for about ten seconds, much longer the it used to at start up. I can drive the van and the temperature gauge rises to its normal position in the center but no warning light. It only comes on and continues to flash after the engine has been shut down and restarted. The Refill Tank is at the proper level.
Can this be caused by air in the cooling system? This problem started after I replaced a leaky rear heater core and then bled the system.
Conversely I have not heard the Radiator cooling fan turn on, but the weather has been very cool here in Los Angeles. The Owners Manual states that the Radiator fan should turn on if the warning light is flashing. The schematic shows that they are not interconnected and isolated circuits in my van.
The Van is an 85 Westfalia with 2.1 litre WBX engine and cooling system. |
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otiswesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006
Posts: 1731
Location: Portland
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9810
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: Temp Warning light problem |
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| felixbobcat wrote: |
| ,,,The Refill Tank is at the proper level... |
It is the level in the (left hand) pressurized tank that causes the light to blink:
A pocket of air can develop there for a number of reasons, can even be ephemeral in certain conditions.
Perhaps the first thing to do is look at that tank and if there is a pocket of air, add coolant to it. |
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9940
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: Temp Warning light problem |
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Sounds like it might be an electrical problem in the dash. Those can take some effort to resolve.
That GW tech link is better than nothing but falls short with various errors and omissions.
Mark |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6833
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: Temp Warning light problem |
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"Turned off and then restarted"
Check the level of coolant in the tank by the license plate - how full is it after shut down and when you go to restart it?
I'd do another bled making sure the main tank is full when the throttle is at 2000-3000rpm and then put the cap on. (Starting out cold so you can have the cap off to see what it is doing.)
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felixbobcat
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2017
Posts: 173
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 5:37 pm Post subject: Re: Temp Warning light problem |
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| Steve M. wrote: |
"Turned off and then restarted"
Check the level of coolant in the tank by the license plate - how full is it after shut down and when you go to restart it?
I'd do another bled making sure the main tank is full when the throttle is at 2000-3000rpm and then put the cap on. (Starting out cold so you can have the cap off to see what it is doing.) |
There was a little fluid in the overflow tank, just bellow the minimum mark. Drove it and now the problem is gone after I pulled the instrument cluster and removed the temp gauge to see how easy it would be to replace the capacitor that is usually associated with this problem. While it was out I made sure the blue foil connector was clean and the copper ends flat and situated properly.
Light doesn't blink now but the temp gauge reads a little higher then normally. I did make the mistake of seeing if the needle would move independently so I may have bent it at its base slightly. I pointed an IR thermometer at thermostat housing and it read 180 degrees. The needle on temp gauge was a little past center.
The Radiator fan still hasn't come on though. How hot does the Radiator need to be to trigger it? |
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9940
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Temp Warning light problem |
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The physical position of the needle has no causal relationship with either the blinking led or the radiator fan.
All 3 things can relate to engine temps but not directly to each other.
Mark |
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