Close but not quite. The early models had a coolant level sensor unit
that pegged the temp needle and blinked the led whenever the coolant was
detected low even though the engine was not actually overheated. During
the 85 model year a new unit was fitted that upon detecting low coolant
level only blinked the led but left the temp needle reading true engine
temps.

The Vanagon cooling system can suddenly SEEM to overheat when there is
air in the system IF you have the early level sensor control unit.

Mark

Peter Lofting wrote:
>
> The Vanagon cooling system can suddenly overheat when there is air in
> the system or a slow leak. Having such long water pipes the bubbles
> can cause sudden air locks when they get in the wrong place. Either
> air gets in the wrong place or the level of coolant drops to the
> point that it will suddenly cook and the needle go full over and the
> idiot light come on.
>...........