In a message dated 13/09/2007 10:27:03 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Guys,  =0A =0AI am at my wits end with this.=0AOn an 87 Westy with an automa=
tic,  and 81K.  The engine is tight and none of the hoses leak coolant.   The=
coolant level is perfect.  I am having problems figuring out what  to fix o=
r replace to make the frigin flashing coolant light stop.=0A  =0AThis is int=
ermittent.  You start the van and it goes off after a  few blinkies and othe=
r times it will continue to blink for a long long  time.=0A =0AThe coolant t=
ank is full, brand new, with a new cap and a new  sender and good blue VW ap=
proved coolant.=0A =0AThe engine is not running  hot and the temp needle run=
s right in the middle covering the stoopid  idiot light.=0A =0AI have played=
with the wires on the coolant sender and  they are nice and clean and not f=
rayed.  I have put some dielectric  grease to keep the contacts lubed.=0AI h=
ave looked at the connector on  the dash that connects to the blue foil and =
all contacts there appear  fine.=0A =0ALastly I tightened the 7mm nuts on th=
e back of the gages that  connect to the blue foil on the instrument panel t=
hinking that their  looseness was causing a faulty connection.  I was sure t=
hat was the  problem.=0A =0AAll was well.... and it reoccurs.  The blinks th=
e  twilight zone.   AAAHrgg!  Help.  What and where can I  look to remedy thi=
s intermittent gremlin

        Joel, looks like you've  tried all the normal stuff.  Only TWO things
left.  ONE is the  control unit on the fuse box panel.  Looks like a relay
but is not.   Has a number 43 or 42 on it.  Try changing that from a van that
has no  problems or get a new one.  TWO is the stupid capacitor that is
attached to the board with the red LED.  It can be changed with due  diligence.  The
caps I have found here in Ottawa are somewhat bigger so  require some
finagling to get in the small space.  The face plate of the  gauge must be removed by
extracting the rivets in a manner they can be reused  unless you can find a
replacement for them.  OR - just order a new gauge  from VW or find a GOOD used
one somewhere  - NO I do not have one !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007