If your level sensor gives a low level warning (true or not),  it may peg
the guage on some model years.  My '85 did this when I was bleeding the
system after installing a new engine.  The level dropped low enough to
cause the light to blink and the guage just pegged indicating a high
temperature.  In fact, there was still coolant in the tank, it had just
dropped below the probe level.   When you go from higher rpms  to idle, the
coolant level will rise some in the expansion tank.   This is why your
guage read normally again after idling.  It sounds to me like you may still
have some air in the system.  More than likely, it is not running that hot,
it is just the low level pegging the guage.   I had good luck topping off
through the radiator bleed hole using a squeeze bottle.   Bleeding the
system is trickier when the whole system has been emptied after an engine
replacement.

                                                      Jay    '85 Westy

PaddleVan <paddlevan@YAHOO.COM>@gerry.vanagon.com> on 04/24/2002 11:51:13
AM

Please respond to PaddleVan <paddlevan@YAHOO.COM>

Sent by:    Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>

To:    vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
cc:
Subject:    Temp gauge  pegged to the right

Hi,

yesterday SWMBO told me that Paddlevan  84 1.9 l was showing as running
hot.

Last night I went through the bleeding procedure and every thing appeared
to be fine

but after  it warmed up the gauge stayed to the right.When i stopped and it
idled down

the guage dropped to the left...

So far no apparent coolant loss . no coolant trail . The system appears to
be holding pressure.

 I am using the orange dexcool..Should I head for the hills or replace the
thermostat????

Any other suggestions

Paddlevan

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