Jerry - you are right the archives are loaded with blinking red light
inquiries and answers, the first thing to check if your temps are not
actually rising and no visible leaking - is the coolant resevoir  and/or
sensor. Located on the immediate left (drivers side  corner) of the rear of
the van engine compartment. First pull off the sensor wire, - only wire
going to top of plastic resevoir. Check for corrosion / clean up. If it's
not that - with engine idling and warm - check the resevoir itself. Mine had
a hairline crack invisible to the eye, but under pressure (warm idle) it let
a small amount of steam escape by the seam of the tank. Had to replace it ~
30 bucks form the bus depot, a new sensor was ~ 7 bucks and a good idea
regardless, because you will want to know for certain when those temps rise
for real.

You can find them used in yards, but they may have or develop the same issue
down the road. is it safe to drive long trips ??  your call - I would check
these things first to be sure you will be alerted when a real problem does
arise if and when it does. Undetected real high temps could blow your heads
/ and or motor. They call it an idoit lite for a reason  ; )

Mike
87 westy
87 wolf
85 gl 4 parts
----- Original Message -----
From: Royston, Jerry <gmr@OBPA.USDA.GOV>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 10:08 AM
Subject: Blinking Termperature Light

> I'm sure this has come up a million times in the past and I did try the
> archives but the search engine kept throwing me off.  I got into my Westy
> yesterday started up the engine and the red temperature light started
> blinking immediately.  Never had any overheating problems in the 5 months
> since I bought the van.  Is this merely a short somewhere?  Is it still
safe
> to drive the van if the temperature guage stays in the normal zone?  Is
this
> something I need to fix before a long trip?  Thanks for any help.
>
> Gerry Royston
> Bethesda, MD
> '87 Westy
>