Did you check the coolant level in the main pressure tank? The system may be
low due to a bad pressure cap allowing coolant to burp out when warm and
then not sucking it back it. When cold, lift the engine cover before
starting the engine so you can see. Then start the engine and immediately go
back to see the level in the main tank. If it is low, then you need to find
out why. As the coolant warms up it is expanding so it will cover the sensor
probes and turn the light off.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Michael Hart
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 9:01 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Water Temperature Light

To those who have helped me with my previous posts - THANKS!

However, I have a new potential problem (i.e. that's to say I don't know if
it is a problem
or just a nuisance) with the water temperature indicator light on my '87
Westy.
Normal operation: when I start engine from cold, light flashes for several
seconds &
then goes out (it behaves this way most of the time)
Occasionally: light continues to flash (I've only waited about a minute). If
I switch engine
off and on again, it behaves normally.
Occasionally (after switching engine off & on again); light comes on again,
a little later
(perhaps half a minute later) and continues to flash. If I switch engine off
and on again,
back to normal operation.
This only seems to happen first thing (morning, not particularly cold here
in northern CA)
and does not come back later in the day. I can then drive all day (well, use
the van for trips
up to 50 miles, that's as far as I have gone recently, at up to freeway
speeds) without the
light flashing again.
Coolant level is normal (i.e. b/w the full/empty marks on the expansion
tank), no recent
coolant changes or leaks. The (analog) temperature gauge behaves normally,
starting from
cold and settling just below midpoint marker under normal use.
Engine is stock 2.1l and has 112k.

Any ideas??

Thanks,
Mike
'87 Westy

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