Temperature Light Flashing

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trixie

Temperature Light Flashing

Post by trixie »

I have a '93 Cabbie and the temperature gauge flashes. I have had a new thermostat put in and it ran without the flash for a couple days. It does not seems to be overheating according to the gauge but I am still concerned. My mechanic does not seem to knwo either. Does anyone have a suggestion for me?
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Post by SoCal_Cabby »

make sure the coolant level is at the full mark, the sender seems to be a little touchy, so if it drops from the full mark at all it will start to flash (at least it seemed to stop on mine when i would top it off)

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Post by Calimus »

If your cabby has a sensor in the coolent expansion tank, it's time to replace it. What happens is that the heat from the coolent finally works it's way up into the sensor and shorts it out. The will cause the light to blink as if the coolent was low or temps are screaming hot. I think the sensor is about $13 at most on-line parts houses.

If you don't have that sensor, then disreguard this post.
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Post by sixsracing »

Calimus is probably right, but I have replaced these and still had the same problem. There are quite a few ground terminals above the left kick panel and behind the fuse box, clean these up real good too. Also, VW claims that if the coolant is too far off the recommended concentration of 50/50, it will also set the light to flashing. As always, check the contacts at the switch in the coolant tank, these will corrode and cause poor connection also.
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Temperature Light Flashes

Post by Metallicabby »

I have just had the thermostat and then the plastic flang (sp?) that holds it in place (it seems to warp over time?). Then we still had the flashing light! I look at the reservoir and it is very low. I added coolant and water and it the flashing light stopped. So I am going to keep an eye on the level of the fluid . I appreciate the sensor info as I will replace it next if it starts again. If the coolant goes away - back to the dealership. Also appreciate the info about the mixture being "reported to have set it off".
If I could get my wasted days back, would I use them to get back on track...

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Re: Temperature Light Flashes

Post by tolusina »

Metallicabby wrote:....... back to the dealership..........".
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Anything but that!! Get a Bentley, get to Sears for tools, you'll spend less and have so much fun learning it won't feel like work at all. :thumbup:

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Re: Temperature Light Flashes

Post by CalAltaDubber »

tolusina wrote:
Metallicabby wrote:....... back to the dealership..........".
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Anything but that!! Get a Bentley, get to Sears for tools, you'll spend less and have so much fun learning it won't feel like work at all. :thumbup:

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Well Put!
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Post by Metallicabby »

I know - I know. But I am the LAST person in the world that should be working on a car that my daughter is going to drive. I read what you all are doing on your cars and look at some of the projects some of you have posted pics on and it amazes me.
I hate to wuss-out, but I am not up to speed on the mechanics of this car. Which is why I am here. The is about the most helpful website I have ever seen that is topic specific.
That being said - I will admit that I am willing to learn and will purchase the Bentley - I have tools so I will dust them off - and I will try (can't afford the freakin' dealership much more anyway).
If I could get my wasted days back, would I use them to get back on track...

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Post by Calimus »

Many of us are not mechanics. Well, we wern't untill we got these cars anyway.

I did normal things like oil/sparkplug changes and such, but no major work till I had a few VW's. Now I'm working on my second motor-swap. I've replaced clutches, transmissions, fought fuel injection, modified rims to fit the car, upgraded brakes, etc.....

Only thing I really have left to do is a total engine rebuild and a total transmission rebuild. First part of that I will prollie deal with next year. I hope to never need to rebuild the tranny.

You gotta start somewhere and there is no better reason then because the dealership will rape you silly.
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Post by 1lowcab »

i'm with cal, i did the normal stuff to cars also but nothing big, untill i started really getting into vw's. now the sky's the limit.. or maybe my bank account, whatever.

anyway, these cars are really easy to work on. just take your time and read the bentley. good luck. :thumbup:
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Post by Calimus »

1lowcab wrote: now the sky's the limit.. or maybe my bank account, whatever.
You had it right there. The bankaccount is always the limit. :P
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Post by Briano1234 »

Calimus wrote:Many of us are not mechanics. Well, we wern't untill we got these cars anyway.

I did normal things like oil/sparkplug changes and such, but no major work till I had a few VW's. Now I'm working on my second motor-swap. I've replaced clutches, transmissions, fought fuel injection, modified rims to fit the car, upgraded brakes, etc.....

Only thing I really have left to do is a total engine rebuild and a total transmission rebuild. First part of that I will prollie deal with next year. I hope to never need to rebuild the tranny.

You gotta start somewhere and there is no better reason then because the dealership will rape you silly.
I started out at the age of 5 being a gopher for my dad, I remember watching him lovelingly restore a Model T and learning body work with lead, bees wax, and a wooden paddle. I also learned a few new words to my vocabulary like "f'in this, or that."

By the age of 9 I could do shocks and help with brakes.
At the Age of 13, our first engine rebuild and total car restoration 60 bug-eyed sprite, at 13, I bought my first car, a 1958 bug-eyed sprite, then at 15 a 67 MG Midget......total car restoration all 3. So the saga begins the birth of a Mechanic......(okay shade tree at best). I am not afraid to tackle anything....(that is my serious downfall). Get the Factory books (BENTLEY) (Haynes will do) and (Chiltons), I own all 3. Ask Questions, untill my first Cabby I didn't know squat about the watercooled gas engine VW. I did own a Diesel Rabbit for 20 years, only took it to the dealership 3 times (all warranty work). I took it to Sears once, well about 8 times after that (I loved the lifetime replacement on front end parts and struts.) Another piece of advice, buy parts with lifetime warranties..it will pay in the long run.

Enjoy....some things you can get off of Ebay,....Parts are cheap, but...if it is a part that causes a no run condition ie: Alternator fuel Pump, better to go local for a warranty, as you can have the part in a day, instead of having to wait for the UPS man.
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Post by theonlychuck »

i agree with everyone, buy a book and these guys (and gals) will help a lot. i didn't know much about cars other than just oil changes, spark plug changes, and brakes until i bought this car, with help from my dad and the great people here i've done quite a bit, including the dreaded tranny rebuild, which was time consuming but not that bad. if you do have a question that the book doesn't help you with or is unclear just post it here and somebody will know or be able to find out for ya.

p.s. sorry about my lack of being here lately, we just bought a new house and the cable guy came yesterday to hook up the internet so i should be around now =]
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Post by CalAltaDubber »

I am a technical writer for a living, although my background is electronics not mechanical.

The Bently manuals are the best source for MK I VWs (although sometimes they tend to leave some information out).

Mine has saved me countless hours of frustration and money. Because I like to bend wrenches in my spare time, it also provides me with an excellent source of information on my car.

Many people curse the wiring diagrams in the Bently, and I can't understand why. They are simple to follow and provide more information than most people realize. Including, wire colour, and where connections are by pin number.

They alone are worth the price of the manual.

That's my expierence and 2 cents worth.
Phil

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'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
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Post by kamzcab86 »

CalAltaDubber wrote:Many people curse the wiring diagrams in the Bently, and I can't understand why. They are simple to follow and provide more information than most people realize. Including, wire colour, and where connections are by pin number.
Here's why I curse those wiring diagrams:
* Many wires and their connectors in the 1985-1986 diagrams are not how the actual wires are run in my '86; therefore, I have to turn to the 1987-1989 diagrams for some things and turn to the '85-'86 diagrams for the rest. :roll: Annoying, very annoying to say the least.
* The main wiring diagrams for the 1987-1989 in my Bentley are difficult to read, not from a diagram standpoint, but from a print-out standpoint (too small and somewhat blurry). Bentley got their manuals right for the MkIV's, which is why I'll curse the Cabby Bentley in its entirety, inspite of it being the best manual out there, until they revise/update it (which won't bloody likely happen in my lifetime). :D :beer:
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