Try checking you expansion tank water level (the one that you cannot see
from your lisence plate).  In the 83 1/2 - 85 vanagons there is a water
level sensor and if the level drops below that, then the temp warning light
would flash, regardless of temp (helps when a hose blows while the engine is
still cold.  This happened while driving my date for homecoming back to her
place).  Just because the overflow tank, the one that you can see from the
lisence plate, has water in it does not mean that there is water in the
expansion tank.  It will also flash when the engine over heats.  I imagine
that it is the same way with the 86-91 vanagons.  It will also flash for a
moment after startup some times.  Also, if the van's cooling system was
worked on recently, then the mechanic may not have bled the cooling system
properly, and air could displace the water in the expansion tank, driving
down the level, and then the overflow tank would fill it back up, resulting
in the light flashing sporadically.

mckayaa@oit.edu
college student in mechanical engineering at Oregon Institute of Technology
'85 vanagon GL
-----Original Message-----
From: Bebe <jjohnston@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, October 10, 1998 10:01 AM
Subject: 87 Vanagon temperature light

>I just bought an 87 Vanagon, Wolfsburg edition. My temperature light
>flashes off and on at times. The bus does not seem to be overheating but
>worried that I may cause damage if I keep driving.Has anyone had the
>same problem or know what may cause this to happen?
>
>Thanks,
>Bebe
>