Red flashing light on temp gauge

[karl40]

Hello all
Just come back from Brighton Breeze and had a great time, but on the way down we had to wait to park up on the prom. This took quite some time approx 45 minutes in 85 degrees plus heat and the old girl got very hot indeed.The red flashing light came on and the fan kicked in as it should but this continude as we were trying to park up. I did keep turning the engine off when i could and she did not boil over, however the flashing light keeps coming on with the needle going straight to max. This happens as soon as the van starts from cold, then it settles back to cold and is fine. The van runs fine and i thought it might be a thermostat but dont know where to start looking for it as its supposed to be located in the water pump on the 1900 DF engine. Anyone else had this.

[Hacksawbob]

Fan is independent of temp guage, there is a sensor in the radiator that does fan of and on. if the guage is going straight to hot suspect the temp sender. Not had petrol for a while so I cant give you location. Also wiring to sender damaged or possibly dash nodule issue.

[karl40]

Thanks Hacksaw bob

[petermoore]

Is the water level ok? Is the fan belt in good condition? And properly tentioned? Do you get hot air when you switch the blowers on?

[obbig]

are your water pipes steel maybe they are slightly pited around the rear off the van not quite blown yet youve lost a bit of water this could be your warning sign ,top up water drive it local if the gauge go`s high then comes back down after about a mile or so be for the van could get hot your losining abit of water its proberley just starting to burst a well pitted bit of steel happend to me 4 weeks ago .

[Nij]

Mine have just started to pit - gonna look for 2nd hand pipes - seams quite common problem

[karl40]

I have been out tonight and checked the old girl out and i cant find any signs of a water leak and there has been no loss from the header tank. i ran her for some 15 minutes and she got just past half way on the temp gauge and the fan kicked in as it should and the needle settled at half way. No flashing light all seems ok. How noisey is a poorley water pump? as there seems to be a slight knocking coming from it.

[kevtherev]

Water pumps should be silent.... unless there imminent death is coming

[Niander]

my red light always flashes at first but then stops and the temp gauge kicks in and ive never heard the fan yet!
dont even know if it works!

[zed]

Had a similar problem earlier this year. Header tank full, correct level in expansion tank yet after drivng for a while the red led \ low coo;ant light came on. Fan working as it should. After one trip I got back,engine cover off, and sure enough when the engine got warm enough the header woud get below the sensor. To cut a long story short and after changing the pressure cap probably unnecessarily, I found a load of nasty gunk was blocking the pipe from the expansion tank to the pressure cap. Changed the hose, and it has been okay ever since.

[Niander]

ill check for that