Thank you Bill & Daniel,

I just got off the phone with my friends and they assured me that the coolant was not steaming, hot or boiling.  They checked to see if the sensor was leaking and found only a threaded hole, (this is where they stuck the cork).  They called AAA and the driver said that there was "something missing, like a plug, on the top of the tank right next to the blue cap with the hose coming out of it". He also said he knew nothing about VWs, so I told him that there was supposed to be a sensor in that hole and to look for the wires and sensor, but he was unable to locate them. I think this is very strange!

 Since this sensor is for coolant level and not temperature (as I had mistaken), will the temp guage still work?  They said the light was flashing but the guage indicated normal temp.  The cork is holding tight with the engine running and I had them top up the reservoir with coolant.  

The tow truck can't take the van because it is a Syncro and he won't disconnect the drive shaft, so my friends are driving it to town.  I will keep my fingers crossed!

Thank you so much for your assistance!

Loretta 

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