----- Original Message -----
From: "Benny boy" <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>

Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:24 PM
Subject: Coolant level relay/light part 1 (LONGGGGG)

> Since my Red van coolant level/high temp light (the one behind the temps
> needle in the cluster) did blink for ever this morning, i had to find the
> truth about it... No, coolant level was find and temp also. So i had (I
> thought so)a coolant relay problem, everytime this happen, i was humid
> outside.
>
> Anyway, we did sone heavy testing this morning on my van and on an 87 to
> find out everything about that scary light.
>
> Here it is:
>
> That light as a few function on all year and not only 86+.
>
> First, this light will blink when you put the key ON, even if the engine
> is
> not working, it as nothing to do with the engine working or not, nothing!
>
> Now, mine was blinking for ever, temp needle was normal.
>
> So here is the short story for now, a web page will follow when i have
> time:
>
> -The light and the temp needle are in someway related
>
> -The light will blink for 2 reasons, first if you have no coolant and the
> second, to show you that the temp needle is to hight, and that, on all
> years.
>
> -On 85 and below, if you miss coolant in the EXPENSION tank the light will
> blink and the temp needle will rise like crazy, even if the engine is
> still
> ok, on 86 +, only the light will blink but the needle will stay normal.
>
> -The relay! on all van we have a coolant level relay, yes, i said level,
> and
> this one as nothing to do with anything else than coolant level! when the
> level is low, the relay go on and rise the temp needle and blinking ligh
> go
> ON, if you unplug the collant level sender wire, it will also rise (it
> take
> about 3 second). Like i said, the neelde will only rise on 85- van. I you
> remove the relay, or this one is defective, you will never know nothing,
> the
> coolant light will blink at start up (this fonction is into the cluster!)
> and the temp will operated normally. To be sure that the relay is good,
> unplug the wire on the coolant level sender located on the expension tank.
> Of course, the coolant level sender could also be defective!!!
>
> -Now, if you unplug the temp sender on the engine and ground this one to
> the
> engine or any metal part, blinking light gos ON and temp goes up like
> crazy.
> That is 2 different thing but they look the same!
>
> -Now, in my case, i did some testing, relay was replace or not even on the
> van and i still had the problem??? when the ignition was ON, the light was
> blinking slowly and that from 5 to 15 second it staid ON... this has
> NOTHING
> to do with any sender, gauge, relay or wire... only the cluster was the
> problem, imbeded in that one is a small circuit, the check circuit... this
> one was BAD!!! i had another cluster and the problem went away!!!
>
> So, lets go deaper! if the light blink at start up and that for a long
> time
> and/or forever, the cluster could be the problem because if you had a low
> coolant level situation, the needle would rise crazy on 85 and less and on
> 86 + you could also have a coolant level problem.
>
> If the light blink and the temp needle rise like crazy, you may have a
> short
> on the temp sender or/and the coolant level sender on 85 and less!!!!!
> frigging crazy but true! but you may or not know that the relay is
> working!
> on 85 and less, you know!
>
> Shit, lets call that light the craSY light!!!!
>
> I'm lost myself now!
>
> How to be sure of anything now! well, if the light blink at start up you
> know the light is good,,, yeaaaaaaaa! if the needle move, yeaaaaaaa again!
>
> If it goes off after 5 second or so, yeaaaa again! But if it goes ON wile
> on
> the road! well, mostly you have a coolant /temp problem, well, it was
> design
> for that matter... but!
>
> So, the relay is ONLY for telling you that the coolant level is low, but!
> if
> it's dead, you will never know, bad! But the rest may still work fine!
>
> To somewhat prevent all that crap... you should replace the #42 or 43
> relay,
> replace the coolant level sender in the expension tank and why not, the
> coolant temp sender. Make sure the wire to this one is ok.
>
> Ok, i'm lost myself, got to print that page, i won't remember shit
> tomorrow!
> i'm so lost with that light that i could be wrong somewhere!!!!
>
> Part 2, well, there is no part 2, at least for now. I have to put that
> info
> on a web page for now and reflect... i know i'm forgeting some stuff, but
> i'm not sure what... crazy light!
>
> Ben
> http://www.benplace.com/
>
>
> --
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> 6:32 PM
>