Temp gauge light

[fastygaz]

As someone more at home with older Aircooled stuff a temp gauge is quite the novelty to me!!
I have a 1.9 reimo conversion which I'm getting along quite happily with, although as always it needs a few bits and bobs sorting!!
I've noticed recently that the light on the temp gauge flashes as normal when I turn on the ignition and goes off, but when I set of it flashes continuously despite the needle not having moved from it's resting position...turn the engine off and fire her up again and it'll stay off?!
Couple this with the oil light flashing constantly despite having had a good once over from local vw guru and the dash is starting to resemble a Christmas tree!!
Any advice as to whether or not I should be worried would be gratefully received!!
Thanks
Gaz

[mrdp]

Hi, just a thought, I could be wrong but the temp light also doubles up as a low water warning lamp. Check the water level on the expansion tank ( Behind the number plate ) and also the other tank ( under the engine cover right hand side) that one should be full to the top at all times just to be sure you have enough coolant.

[kevtherev]

Flashing temp light
Make sure the sender on top of the header tank has it's two connections in good order. and the header tank is full to the brim AT ALL TIMES.
A new sender is available from Brickwerks.
Oil light
the sender for the oil light has a single wire to it, located under cyl 3 & 4 behind the pushrod cover.
later engines have another switch between the oil pump and filter this connects to the buzzer of doom as you haven't mentioned any buzzer I guess your problem lies with the low pressure sender
clean up the connections or replace with the suitable pressure switch (blue top 0.25 bar) again available from Brickyard

[Ian Hulley]

Flashing temp light
Make sure the sender on top of the header tank has it's two connections in good order. and the header tank is full to the brim AT ALL TIMES.
A new sender is available from Brickwerks.

They sold the last ones a couple of weeks ago

[fastygaz]

Thanks very much for the help, I'll have a check of everything mentioned...I hear that the type of coolant is critical with these motors but can't find a definitive answer as to what is best?!
The specialist I took it to for a service says he changed the oil pressure switch and that he believes it to be a fault in the wiring behind the dash...is this something anyone's come across before?!
Gaz

[Ian Hulley]

Yes it's common for the circuit boards to fail. Check the wiring by disconnecting the plug from the header tank sender and bridging the 2 terminals with a piece of wire ... the light should go out, with the terminals unbridged the light should flash. Sadly the senders from GSF can be of dubious quality and as I said Brickwerks are out of stock.

Ian.

[fastygaz]

I've had plenty of experience being stung by GSF 'quality' products!! I'll try the circuitboard test too when I get chance...thanks for that!!
Gaz

[Rich Tea]

Cleaning the earth crowns by the fuse box cleared loads of dash light issues for me including "Christmas tree" lights and the coolant light continuously flashing, radio turning itself off every 4 seconds etc. wished I'd done it earlier. Takes half an hour (or less) and costs a small corner of a sheet of wet and dry paper. I'd start there before spending any money on changing bits ( been there, did that, made no difference for the issue I had). Also dash contacts are delicate so start with the crowns before you try the dash IMHO. Hope you find your problem. Rich

[fastygaz]

Thanks rich, sounds like the best place to start!!
Gaz