Sounds like the capacitor issue to me.
If you have an 86-91 just pull the coolant level warning relay next time
the blinking keeps going after you turn on the key.

It lives in relay socket #3 and should have a large #43 or #42 stamped
on the end.

If the blinking continues with this pulled out, no point in wasting time
looking at coolant level or coolant level sender/wiring.

Mark

Edward Maglott wrote:
> I am thinking this is the capacitor in the gauge.  here are the symptoms:
>
> -coolant tank is full.
> -light blinks intermittently.
> -seems to do this less often when the ambient temp in the van is warmer.
> -sometimes turning off the key and turning it back on will correct the
> problem.
> -sometimes turning the key to on, the light will stop flashing after a few
> second, other times not.  when it does stop, if you start the van it will
> stay off.  when it doesn't stop, if you start the van, it sometimes will
> turn off, other times not.
>
> What do you think David Beierl and other vanagon electrics experts?
>
> Thanks,
> Edward
>