Stephen...

hehe...

I did that... *"buy a second Vanagon"* ending up with 7 vanagon and NOT out
of the barn yet... :-)... oh yeah *for observation and scientific
research...*

On Thu, May 16, 2019 at 1:14 PM Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Excellent reason to buy a second Vanagon to be used as a control vehicle
> in this ongoing experiment. "But, honey, there's a scientific reason we
> need the second van!"
>
> Stephen
>
> Mobile
>
> > On May 16, 2019, at 3:28 PM, email99@nc.rr.com <email99@NC.RR.COM>
> wrote:
> >
> > I have, once again, replaced the 251 919 372 Coolant Level Sensor to fix
> > the blinking red light in the Coolant Temperature Gauge in my '86
> > Westy.  It is most annoying that this excessively high priced sensor has
> > to be replaced on a regular basis.  Certainly VW could have figured a
> > way to measure coolant level rather than with this sensor.  I have had
> > to replace this sensor regularly about every 10 years and the cost has
> > now reached the exorbitant level of $1.80.  The list price from one
> > vendor is actually $42.44.
> >
> > When replacing the sensor this time I made an observation that might
> > help us all avoid this expensive repair.  When the old sensor was
> > removed I noticed one of the sensing pins was bright and clean while the
> > other was black and rough.  Since the level gauge measures resistance
> > between the submerged pins there must be a constant small current
> > passing through the coolant between the pins.  This constant current may
> > be removing ions from one pin and depositing them on the other, thus
> > changing the electrical activity of the surface of both.  After 10 years
> > the difference might be enough to fool the electronic circuitry and
> > cause a false positive blinking light.
> >
> > Has anyone else noticed this difference in appearance of the used sensor
> > pins?
> >
> > I suggest that the electrical connections to the sensor be reversed on a
> > regular basis to keep the pins in equal, clean condition.  The
> > electrical plug is not keyed to fit in the sensor so this is an easy
> > thing to do by rotating it 180 degrees.  Doing this often will not be
> > detrimental so maybe at each oil change would be easy to remember.  Or
> > maybe just do it once now and forget about it.
> >
> > Just my Vanagon experience today.
> >
> > Ed
>