What you should do is replace your early version of the coolant level
relay with a newer type. The newer type only blinks the warning while
the early type pegs the needle hot as well as blinks the led. The early
type thus causes needless heart failures when it suddenly shoots the
temp needle to the top of the scale when the cause has nothing at all to
do with how hot the engine is. The newer type leaves the temp gauge
reading actual engine temps.

It is just a plug-in relay module. Any year can be fitted with the newer
type or older type. The vehicle wiring is the same just the relay
varies. New ones don't cost that much from internet parts houses.

Mark

vt wrote:
> On my 84 Westy,
> Within the past few months, I've replaced the thermostat, the pipe and
> fittings which extend left to right from the coolant storage "tank" on
> the rear left of the engine compartment across the top of the engine,
> I've drained the system twice, made certain there is no air lock,
> ensured there is no leakage either to the outside or into the engine
> itself, checked the pressures several times, checked the electric
> connections, verified the temp gauge works, verified the cooling fan for
> the radiator is operating appropriately, verified that the radiator is
> neither clogged nor overheating, and still the little red light comes on
> and the temp indicator needle pegs itself for awhile (2-5 minutes) until
> it swings back to mid-range on the dial.
>
> My conclusion which is confirmed by the fellow who is both mentor to and
> mechanic for folks in my region of Vermont who stroke, cuss, cry and
> laugh about the caprice of our VWs is that the system is working fine,
> no over-heating is occurring, and I should just keep driving until the
> situation self-corrects.  I've had other situations self-correct, so
> this is fairly believable for me ... even though my adrenaline does
> increase a bit each time I see that temp light go red on me ...
>
> Sam Conant
> Colchester, Vermont
>