water temp blinking light??

[scot marechaux]

Just bought this 1985 Westfalia. 104,000 miles excellent shape every thing works. Problem is: the water temp light is blinking. seems that the water level is good in the expansion tank. no leaks. tightened the v-belt. what should I look for?

[levi]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?searc..._chars=200

There's really a lot of possibilities.
Click on the above links for some of them.

One common reason is the 2 prong sensor reaching into the top of your high pressure tank.
If it's kaput, you'll get the blinky.
If it's not fully submerged, you'll get the blinky.
If the prongs are coated in gunk, you'll get the blinky.
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[dhaavers]

Two more: If wiring <or> connector are bad...yep, blinky.

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[danfromsyr]

if the capacitor on the dash blue foil is kaput you'll get the blinky
if the wire connection on the 14pin connector to the blue foil is degraded or compromised from age/handling you'll get blinky.
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[Jake de Villiers]

With our '84, if the van was parked for any length of time in rainy weather, we got the blinking light on startup. It scared the crap ut of me the first time it happened, but I learned to wait until everything warmed up and it would go away.
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[jlrftype7]

[crazyvwvanman]

Lots of things can cause blinking so do a simple test.
Watch the led carefully as you turn the key to on.
It should blink a few times and then stop blinking at least for a short pause.

If it never stops blinking and doesn't take a short pause, the continued blinking problem IS NOT with the tank, sensor, or sensor wiring.

If it blinks a few times, pauses, and then starts blinking again then it probably IS a problem with the tank, sensor, or sensor wiring.

The coolant level control unit has a time delay built into it. The delay is to keep the tank sensor from triggering the led over bumps or sharp turns. The delay is what creates the short pause in power up blinking.

Other causes of key on continuous blinking have nothing to do the level warning system and in those cases the pause doesn't occur.

Of course it is possible and maybe even common for both types of blinking to occasionally occur on the same van. But you have to fix them separately and you may fix one and not realize it if the other type still happens.

Another small detail that confuses things. During 84 model year the coolant level warning control unit (relay) was changed. The newer coolant relay versions require the key to be turned off and back on to clear the blinking. If your blinking sometimes clears itself while you drive then it can't be the coolant level warning system that is causing it because the coolant level warning relay has to power off to clear itself.

Mark

[DanHoug]

and scrub the tank sensor probes with a green 3M Scotchbrite pad until they are stainless steel looking again.
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[levi]

[scot marechaux]

when I turn the key on it starts and stays blinking.
I replaced the blue cap, and sensor on expansion tank and the temp sensor down under the engine.
I have bled the coolant system.
The temp gauge will go to top then too low.
The radiator fan works when you turn on air conditioner but does not seem to work on its own. WTF?

[AZ Landshaper]

Iv never heard of the temp gauge going all the way to the top and then to the low temp area. Are you saying this happens upon start up? My 85 doesnt do that.

If you let the van idle in the driveway for more than 15 minutes the temp gauge should be around the LED light. The fan should be cycling w/in a few minutes of reaching the LED.

Place a jumper across the sensor probes. also across the connectors in the wire connected to the top of the pressure tank. Both of these things should stop the blinking.

Im new to this type of thing though so take my advice w a grain of salt.
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85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug.

[jlrftype7]

[levi]

[crazyvwvanman]

Here is something I wrote in a thread about 10 years ago. It is important to know which version you have since the behavior is so different.
It looks like I had the idea that the major change happened mid-year 85 models.
The early version blinked the led AND pegged the needle hot when it thought coolant was low.

"It only does this screwy needle thing with the early version of the coolant level warning relay, 83-84+. During the 85 model year a new relay was implemented that flashed the led when coolant was detected low but did not make the temp needle jump to the top. This improved part design was used for the next 7 years of Vanagons as well as in many other VWs that had the level sensor in their coolant tanks.

The early type was a tall relay with a 43 stamped on the top. During 85 this changed to a shorter relay with 43 on the top. The last couple years this changed to a 42 stamped on the end but AFAIK it behaves the same as the improved 43. I would never have an early type 43 in one of my vans because I consider it stupid to peg the temp needle when the engine is not necessarily hot. Either of the shorter parts is fine."

Mark