Water light/horn

[vern4130]

Hi all,

I know there's loads of threads on odd water lights going, couldn't find one the same as my prob though so here goes...

Water light was coming on to test itself, then coming on when the engine warmed up and needle got just past the led (so you could see all of the led), when this happened it was sometimes constant and sometimes intermittent and sometimes totally random, looked like a bad connection somewhere.

This all went away, no self test anymore either, over the weekend.

This morning, no self test, got 50 miles with no probs, then the light came on again. Flashing randomly then settling to flashing regularly (needle a bit more than past the led)

Got to work, switched it off. Switched the ignition on again (not engine), and the light self tested, then stopped, then the horn sounded for a second. The horn doesn't normally work.

Very confusing.

When should the the led come on to show the engine is overheating? (i.e how far up the gauge should the needle be?)

Any ideas on this problem?

Oh and I've got a 1.8 8v golf gti engine just to make it confusing!

Thanks,

Mark

[vern4130]

So, it looks like I've got an earth/electrical problem that affects both the horn and the water led.

Neither work unless the engine is warm, then the horn works as normal and the led flashes constantly (thing I've a sensor prob).

Anyone else got any experience of something like this?

Thanks

[y30man5]

I have a similar problem... My temp gauge sometimes doesn't work, but a quick honk of the horn and there it is, working again.

Sometimes the fuel gauge gets involved too.

Also, on some occasions, if the horn won't work, then the washer jets solve the problem...

[vern4130]

Ahh, good to know I'm not alone.

My water light/gauge is now fixed after lots of faffing around -

1. Cleaned up earth crowns next to fuse box
2. Cleaned up temp sensor connector on engine
3. Took out speedo bit and cleaned up printed circuit where multiplug connector plugs in (I think this was the main culprit), also replaced missing nut on back

It's worth knowing that when the light was messing around the gauge would massively over-read sometimes so I was constantly worrying about frying my engine for no reason.

Now the water gauge is well behaved (touch wood), the horn is still bizarre - comes on sometimes with indicator, sometimes with wash-wipe and sometimes for no apparent reason in traffic

[ermie571]

Vern,

don't know if you are aware but that light will flash if your coolant is low and/or the van is too hot. So it may be telling you it needs a top up. Or it maybe lying through its little LED! The self-test is the water level when cold.

(that's with the wiring on a "proper" T25 petrol engine....assuming it still does the same on yours!)

Em
x