At 09:46 AM 7/28/2001, Rachel Cogent wrote:
>I also have the problem of the Hysterical Thermal Gauge which always goes
>away when the engine gets up to operating temperature. When cold it is
>totally random. When warming up the light flashes and the needle is pegged.
>Is this what we are talking about?

Nope -- the Artifactual Flashing Light scenario, i.e. bad gauge,  doesn't
affect the needle, although a bad control module could .  Test the temp
sender (single wire, on the thermostat housing) by unplugging it -- gauge
should go to zero and stay there.  If it doesn't then look for a short in
your sender wiring.   To eliminate the level sender from consideration,
unplug the control module numbered 43 -- third position second row in the
'86-up, very hard to get to on the wall behind the fuse panel on the older
ones.  If it still misbehaves then you have a bad sender or wiring short.

My bet is the sender.

david

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