At 04:50 PM 12/27/2001, Mike Hugill wrote:
>the light reports a high temperature (overheating).  The switch simply
>monitors fluid level in the reservoir, not temperature.  Overheating may or
>may not cause coolant loss, thus low level in the reservoir.  Have you ever
>seen your temp gauge pegged without the red light blinking.  I have.  Once.
>:^(

The light blinks for several seconds whenever the gauge receives a signal
that would result in the needle going offscale.  This signal can be
provided by the temp sender (obviously) or by the coolant level control
circuit which comes in two flavors.  One (older) flavor simply simulates an
overheat -- the gauge pegs, the light blinks.  The newer one (191 319 376,
I'm holding one in my hand) sends brief pulses that aren't enough to make
an obvious difference on the gauge but do trigger the blinker.

cheers
david

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