Red Flashing Light of Doom

[hightower]

Driving to work this morning and halfway there and suddenly noticed the water temp light flashing, the temp gauge was only showing normal (just to the left of the flashing light), i turned on the heater and got hot air blasting at me so i assume water was circulating through the radiator?. I didnt pull over and stop as i was only 3 miles from work and was on country roads so no-where to stop, anyway i checked the header tank when i got to work and it was the same level as when i checked it the otherday (just below min as i need to pick up some G12 on way home from work).

Anyhow i've looked at Wiki and it sounds like a common fault, thank god

anything else i should check apart from the coolant level sensor and wiring?

[airhead]

Well if it wasn't overheating you'll be safe enough. Just fill up your header tank (not just the filler tank behind the reg).

[tonytech]

Red light means STOP!
The engine wont last long without coolant.
The temp guage wont indicate much if you loose yor coolant.

Have you checked the coolant level in the expansion tank?

T

[hightower]

Red light means STOP!
The engine wont last long without coolant.
The temp guage wont indicate much if you loose yor coolant.

Have you checked the coolant level in the expansion tank?

T

I'm going to check the expansion tank before i leave work, it was full on Tuesday night when i had the engine bay lid off and not had it running until today. However i was getting plenty of heat through the heater so coolant must be circulating through the system otherwise i wouldn't have been sweating my nads off by the time i got to work would i , well i assume thats why .

[airhead]

Your heaters are on a secondary system. Your primary system feeds the cooling radiator. But if your heaters are working it means that at least some coolant is moving.

[hightower]

Ok i have just been out (it was bugging me) and checked the header/expansion tank in the engine bay and the coolant is full to the top (well it leaked out as soon as i loosened the cap) and the top up tank accessed via the hatch behind the number plate is at minimum, as it was the other day, i will put a bit of water in it before i leave and then get some G12 antifreeze stuff from halfwits when i go home and top it up to max.

I'm wondering if the van was having a moment as virtually just as the light started to flash i had just been thinking when i get my inheritence through in the not to distant future i may splash out on either a T4 camper or a newer better spec (less rust) T25

[DevonAid]

Had the same problem last week. The good lady called saying that the red flashing light wouldn't go out after the initial engine start/self check. She checked coolant levels, it finally went out, but then came back on again after a short drive. Fortunately for me she's a clever girl, so she just parked up and got the train.
Found my concentration at work was then seriously affected all day, assuming the worst (no coolant/head gasket failure/engine cooked/certain doom).
Next day, a checkover revealed both reservoirs had correct coolant level, but the connector for the low coolant level switch on the header tank had water inside the rubber sleeve. A quick dry out/spray of WD40 appears to have solved it. Could be coolant is seeping up inside the switch?
If coolant levels are OK, temperature remains OK, check your electricals.

[Flibbertigibbet]

get yourself an Aircooled

[Ian Hulley]

Could be coolant is seeping up inside the switch?

It's not unknown to have coolant seep through unseen cracks in the sensor itself or round the neck. VW ones are recommended .. the GSF ones are ... not

Ian.

[hightower]

Thanks for all your replies.

The light didn't come on on the way home from work, so i reckon the van was having a moment.

Resevoir now filled with antifreeze.