At 03:46 PM 11/14/2000, Brian Jones wrote:
>sensor. the van has no coolant in it right now, when i turn the key, the low
>coolant lite flashes like 3 times, and then goes out..

Normal

>the temperature gauge
>does nothing until after the low coolant light flashes-then it shoots all the
>way up to hot and stays there! the vehicle is cold- it does this if the
>coolant temp sending unit is connected or disconnected! is this normal?

Yes, for earlier ones at least through '84.  Short across the coolant
sensor terminals and the needle should come down and the light go out.

david

>  when
>i fill it  with coolant will this stop, or do i have a problem with the low
>coolant sensor controller?? any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"