My 84 Westy shows the coolant red light and the gauge maxes regularly.  I've
had several seasoned VW mechanics look throughout the system for a problem.
I am not losing coolant, the system moves coolant throughout, and the
reservoir shows appropriate levels.  The mech here who I trust without
question (he has helped me maintain the vehicle from 11k - 202+k miles) says
there is nothing wrong ...
Sam Conant
Colchester, Vermont
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 11:27 AM
Subject: Re: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good

> The problem with relying on the temparature guage is that the sensor
> relies
> on coolant being there and flowing. If not for the steam, an empty cooling
> system will have the gauge reading cold. Especially if the sensor is
> mounted
> in a remote, plastic housing. That is why you have the alternator light to
> let you know the pump stopped turning and the coolant level light to let
> you
> know the level is low and the pump is sucking air.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>>From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
>>Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>Subject: Re: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good
>>Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 21:41:48 -0700
>>
>>   Yah, you are right.  I couldn't figure out how to wire it into the
>>Cabriolet motor, and at the time, I figured.."Hey, if the coolant goes
>>out,
>>I will probably see the temp. gauge go up anyway"...but, of course, that
>>may
>>be wrong, with the Vanagon...
>>   Actually, I am putting in a couple of more gauges right now..an oil
>> temp
>>gauge is one thing I really like to have on my cars, and a real oil
>>pressure
>>gauge..I have a bunch of Autometer gauges left over from my race car..
>>   Don Hanson
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>To: "'Don Hanson'" <dhanson@GORGE.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 8:23 PM
>>Subject: RE: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good
>>
>>
>> > When a coolant leak causes your engine to fry, you will wish the light
>>was
>> > working.
>> >
>> > Dennis
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>>Of
>> > Don Hanson
>> > Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 10:53 PM
>> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> > Subject: Re Stopping the flashing coolant light for good
>> >
>> > Mine (84 I-4 conversion faux-Westie) was flashing when I bought it.
>> > Likely a function of it being converted to the I-4 motor..I tried and
>> > tried to get that sucker to stop flashing...Until I finally took out
>> > the
>> > whole clock and made a nice little ovoid piece of black electrical
>> > tape.
>> > Put that right over that bulb and re-assembled the instrument in the
>>dash.
>> > You can't even see that black tape in there, and the light?  Probably
>> > still flashing, but who cares?
>> >   Don Hanson
>> >