

| Subject: | Re: Coolant light mystery |
| From: | FRANK CONDELLI |
| Date: | Mon, 19 Sep 2022 07:58:20 -0400 |
Thanks for all the input, however some of you are not really understanding the problem. The light DOES NOT BLINK, it comes on steady. This is what is odd. I have checked the terminals to the level sender in the tank and the sender, both are good. If I connect the terminals together the lights blinks as it should. Being on steady is what the mystery is. I also notice that if I let the van idle for a long time, 1/2 hour or more the light does not come on until the engine is revved up past 2000 RPM. This phenomene started all of a sudden, no intervention to anything on the engine had been done previously. Coolant mixture is as it has always been previously to this happening. Frank > On Sep 18, 2022, at 12:00 AM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote: > > There is one message totalling 179 lines in this issue. > > Topics of the day: > > 1. Coolant light mystery > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2022 11:30:55 -0600 > From: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET> > Subject: Re: Coolant light mystery > > I was able to find that info in the TSB & I=E2=80=99m not sure = > why they say that Resistances > > are required unless maybe that pertains to the part of that circuit that = > causes the light to > > flash when the Temp Rises into the OverHeat Range ~ > > I contend that it is just a simple switch due to fact that if, = > with Igni'Key On, > > you unplug the Sensors connector the light will Come On/Flash & if you = > then put > > a jumper wire across the 2 connections in the connector, turn Igni,Key = > Off & On, > > & if the rest of the Circuit is functioning correctly, ie No Opens, the = > light will go > > Off > No Resistances Required ~ > > > >> On 16 Sep , 2022, at 11:25 AM, Ed McLean <email99@NC.RR.COM> wrote: >> =20 >> Please check the following Vanagon Technical Service Bulletin clip = > where it >> states the resistance, checked with a digital multimeter, must be = > between >> 31K Ohm and 65K Ohm and the coolant concentration must be below 60 = > percent >> for proper Coolant Indicator LED operation. >> =20 >> =20 >> =20 >> https://beakerbus.nl/2016/vw-vanagon-technical-service-bulletins/ >> =20 >> =20 >> Technical Bulletin >> Group: 90 >> Number: 92-03 >> Date: February 29, 1992 >> Subject: Coolant Indicator LED is Flashing at Normal Temperatures >> Model(s): All Models >> =20 >> =20 >> =20 >> * refer to appropriate wiring diagram >> * disconnect coolant level sensor electrical connector >> * check coolant level in coolant reservoir >> *** MUST be between MIN and MAX marks >> * set digital multimeter, Fluke 83 (US 1119) to ohms function >> * check resistance of level sensor with digital multimeter Fluke 83 >> (US 1119) >> *** must be between 31K Ohm and 65K Ohm with correct COOLANT LEVEL >> AND COOLANT CONCENTRATION. >> =20 >> NOTE >> If coolant resistance is NOT within the above specifications, the >> coolant MUST be drained and replaced with NEW coolant mixture of >> 50 percent water and 50 percent phosphate free coolant antifreeze, >> Part No. ZVW 237 104. (In Canada, use Part No. G 001 100). The >> mixing should be performed before filling vehicle cooling system. >> =20 >> ***************************************************************** >> * CAUTION * >> * Coolant concentrations of 60 percent or higher will cause the * >> * overtemp / low coolant LED to activate. * >> =20 >> End >> =20 >> =20 >> =20 >> =20 >> On Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:35:38 -0600, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET> = > wrote: >> =20 >>> Pretty darn sure that that Coolant Level Probe in the Expansion >> Tank >>> =20 >>> is nothing more sophisticated than a simple Switch > When the Probes = > are >>> =20 >>> Submerged > Circuit Closed,, When Coolant Level drops below Probes = > the >>> =20 >>> Circuit Opens ~ Any Break in the Circuit will cause the Light to come = > on ~ >>> =20 >>> There are some Electronic Components within the Circuit that can = > cause the >>> =20 >>> light to have some odd behaviors @ times ~ I have seen, in several >> different >>> =20 >>> Vanagons, a condition where if the Igni=C3=A2=C2=80=C2=99Key was = > turned to Start in a >> normal >>> =20 >>> way (1 continuous move from Off to On to Start) the Light would Stay = > Lit >>> =20 >>> but if the Igni=C3=A2=C2=80=C2=99Key was turned to On & left in that = > position for 10-15 >> Sec=C3=A2=C2=80=C2=99s >>> =20 >>> before turning to Start then the Light would go Off & act normally ~ >>> =20 >>> I suspect that D Beierl or Dennis H or others may have an explanation = > for >>> =20 >>> that condition ~ >>> =20 >>> =20 >>> =20 >>>> On 16 Sep , 2022, at 9:33 AM, Ed <email99@NC.RR.COM> wrote: >>>> =20 >>>> I believe the coolant light circuit measures resistance between the = > two >> pins >>>> of the sensor in the plastic tank. If the resistance is out of = > range >> then >>>> the light will come on. If the coolant is low or sloshes away from = > the >>>> sensor pins then the light will come on. If the coolant has too = > much >>>> antifreeze then the resistance between the pins will be out of spec = > and >> the >>>> light will come on. If the pins are dirty or corroded then they = > might >> read >>>> incorrect resistance. There could also be a fault in the wiring for = > the >>>> light that could cause the light to come on. I don't know how to = > test >> the >>>> sensor. >>>> =20 >>>> That all I have. >>>> =20 >>>> =20 >>>> =20 >>>> On Fri, 16 Sep 2022 05:57:37 -0700, David McNeely >> <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM> >>>> wrote: >>>> =20 >>>>> Doesn't the coolant light indicate the level of coolant, not the >>>>> temperature? I have actually had it come on when I hit a rough = > spot in >> the >>>>> road, back some years ago. Bouncy, bouncy, and the light blinked = > on and >>>>> off. >>>>> =20 >>>>> On Fri, Sep 16, 2022 at 5:16 AM Ed McLean <email99@nc.rr.com> = > wrote: >>>>> =20 >>>>>> The original note was a short question asking why the coolant = > light >> would >>>>>> turn >>>>>> on and off at random times for no apparent reason while the = > temperature >>>>>> gauge >>>>>> remained in the normal range. >>>>>> =20 > > ------------------------------ > > End of vanagon Digest - 16 Sep 2022 to 17 Sep 2022 (#2022-210) > **************************************************************
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